Psychometric Properties of the Four Forms of Optimism Measure

Optimism has been widely studied in relation to various health outcomes. However, its conceptualization and measurement overlook important nuances in the types of optimism individuals can hold. Existing measures do not account for distinctions such as whether one’s optimism is grounded in reason or reflects differences in how individuals direct their attention. Drawing from recent theoretical and philosophical work, we defined the Four Forms of Optimism (FFO): Groundless, Resourced, Agentive, and Perspectival Optimism, and developed an 8-item FFO measure. We tested its validity and reliability in a university student sample (N = 588) and a sample of working adults (N=97).