TY - JOUR

T1 - The motivational benefits of specific versus general optimism.

AU - Schmitt, Antje

AU - Gielnik, Michael

AU - Zacher, Hannes

AU - Kleemann, Daniela Katharina

PY - 2013/9/1

Y1 - 2013/9/1

N2 - This study addresses the question whether a specific, work-related form of optimistic thinking has motivational consequences in terms of work engagement above and beyond general optimism over time. A specific form of optimistic thinking is focus on opportunities. Focus on opportunities is a future-oriented belief that describes how many plans, goals, and possibilities people expect to have in their future at work. Based on a cross-lagged panel design with a two-year time lag and data from a sample of 124 German business owners, results of structural equation modeling showed that focus on opportunities positively predicted changes in work engagement over time, even when controlling for general optimism. This finding supports propositions of social cognition and self-regulation theories that emphasize the importance of a specific form of optimism that has motivating potential by referring to future work goals and opportunities.

AB - This study addresses the question whether a specific, work-related form of optimistic thinking has motivational consequences in terms of work engagement above and beyond general optimism over time. A specific form of optimistic thinking is focus on opportunities. Focus on opportunities is a future-oriented belief that describes how many plans, goals, and possibilities people expect to have in their future at work. Based on a cross-lagged panel design with a two-year time lag and data from a sample of 124 German business owners, results of structural equation modeling showed that focus on opportunities positively predicted changes in work engagement over time, even when controlling for general optimism. This finding supports propositions of social cognition and self-regulation theories that emphasize the importance of a specific form of optimism that has motivating potential by referring to future work goals and opportunities.

KW - Business psychology

KW - focus on opportunities

KW - optimism

KW - motivation

KW - Work engagement

KW - cross-lagged panel

KW - business owners

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881666749&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/dc4bc7a0-b895-37a0-9d1e-f10c66d765d3/

U2 - 10.1080/17439760.2013.820338

DO - 10.1080/17439760.2013.820338

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 8

SP - 425

EP - 434

JO - The Journal of Positive Psychology

JF - The Journal of Positive Psychology

SN - 1743-9779

IS - 5

ER -