Exploring Optimism Among Black College Students (2011)

Undergraduate: Courtney McCluney

Faculty Advisor: Enrique Neblett
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

---

Dispositional optimism is a relatively stable trait that reflects a tendency to maintain a generally positive outlook on life and is associated with a host of positive outcomes (Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom, 2010). These findings are derived from White American samples which limits the generalizability to other ethnic groups. This study addresses these limitations by investigating the association between optimism and life outcomes among Black college students. We recruited sixty first-year self-identified Black college students. The participants completed an online questionnaire containing a well-established dispositional optimism measure, as well as psychological well-being, academic motivation, race-related beliefs and experiences outcomes. Bivariate correlations assessed the relationship between optimism and students’ outcomes. Optimism was positively related to self-esteem (r=.52**) and emotion regulation suppression (r=.44**). Optimism had a negative correlation to self-judging (r=-.32**) and isolation (r=-.44**). Optimism was positively associated with an intrinsic motivation to know (r=.17*), toward accomplishment (r=.19*) and extrinsic motivation (r=.16*). In contrast, optimism was negatively related to amotivation (r= -.29*). Finally, optimism was related to positive feelings about one’s race (r=.16*) and negatively related to discrimination experiences (r=-.16*). These data are both consistent and divergent with traditional literature.