Being optimistic does make a difference in teen mental health
and behaviour, especially against the onset of depressive symptoms,
according to a study by the Murdoch Childrens Research
Institute.
A study, published in Pediatrics, assessed 5634
students aged 12 to 14 years over three years on optimistic
thinking style, emotional problems, substance use and antisocial
behaviours.
Levels of optimism in boys remained stable but in girls there
were marked falls in optimism across the study.
At any given time, optimistic teens were doing much better in
terms of health risks. Most importantly, risks for the later onset
of depression in adolescents who reported high levels of optimism
were almost half those of the least optimistic.
Optimism was also protective against the onset of substance
abuse and antisocial behaviours such as theft, interpersonal
violence and property damage.
Lead researcher Professor George Patton said that that although
optimism is protective against adolescent health risks, it is not a
panacea.
"Preventive interventions will also need to address other
aspects of psychological and interpersonal functioning as well as
the social circumstances in which younger teens are growing up," he
said.