Optimism Within the Context of Disability

Abstract Abstract Optimism, the belief that good things will happen, is an important personality trait associated with how people pursue important goals and cope when those goals are disrupted. Hence, optimism influences how people function and participate in their lives. Empirical evidence suggests optimism is associated with many adaptive outcomes. Research on the role of optimism among people with disabilities and their caregivers is still in the early stages. However, existing evidence suggests that optimism predicts adaptive reactions to adversity, healthy coping, better goal-directed striving, and well-being for people with impairments and their caregivers. We suggest future directions for understanding the role optimism plays in reducing the experience of disability.