Role stressors as predictors of changes in womens’ optimistic expectations

Theorists have suggested that optimistic expectations can be modified by stress. The present longitudinal study predicted that stress in women’s roles would reduce optimism over one year for 182 women who occupied the roles of caregiver, mother, wife, and employee. Results revealed that while 62% of participants reported little or no change in optimism, 38% reported increases or decreases in optimism over one year. Consistent with predictions, increases in wife and employee stress predicted decreased optimism over one year. Increases in wife stress remained predictive of decreased optimism, even after considering baseline role stressors and changes in stress in the other three roles. The present findings highlight the importance of stress as a contextual factors that can change or influence optimism.