Associations of optimism and pessimism with physical activity, quality of life, and life satisfaction in university students: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Optimism and pessimism are psychological constructs that may be associated with individuals' physical and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the associations of optimism and pessimism with physical activity, quality of life, and life satisfaction in university students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 406 university students aged 18-25 years who completed an online survey assessing optimism and pessimism, physical activity, quality of life, and life satisfaction. Associations between optimism and pessimism and the study outcomes were examined using correlation analyses and multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. Physical activity analyses were based on participants with valid and scoreable IPAQ-LF data (n = 318). RESULTS: Optimism was positively associated with life satisfaction and several quality-of-life domains, whereas pessimism showed negative associations with these outcomes. These associations largely remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. Pessimism was additionally associated with lower physical activity. CONCLUSION: Optimism and pessimism were differentially associated with physical activity, life satisfaction, and quality of life, with pessimism showing broader negative associations across these outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of considering optimism and pessimism as distinct psychological constructs in university students.