Aim: To examine the level of optimism in 13-year-olds and the relationship between optimism and self-reported health and family psychosocial and economic factors.
Material and methods: Adolescents at the age of 13 years (n=605) and their parents, identified in the third stage of a prospective cohort study in 2008, was analysed. To examine the level of optimism the short Polish version of the Wagnilda and Young scale (Resilience Scale) were used. The level of optimism and the relationship between family socio-economic factors and family functioning in the family (parenting practices, satisfaction with family contacts) were examined. For the evaluation of probability of a high level of optimism among 13-year-old girls and boys the multivariate model of logistic was used.
Results: Girls had a significantly higher level of optimism. Girls and boys with positive attitude to life rated their health significantly better than their peers with negative attitude. Univariate analyses showed that with the level of optimism father's education level among girls and the professional status of the parents among boys, was significantly associated. Family affluence reported by children, positive parenting and satisfaction with family contacts, were significantly associated with the attitude to life, both in girls and boys. The level of optimism among boys was also related with the level of discipline by the mother and the level of control exercised by both parents. Finally, for girls multiple regression analyses showed that father's positive parenting was a predictor of high level of optimism [OR=0,45; CI(OR):0,23-0,85; p=0,014]. In boys, mother's positive parenting [OR=0,39; CI(OR):0,19-0,82; p=0,013] and appropriate father's control were found to be significant predictors of optimism [OR=0,33; CI(OR): 0,13-0,84; p=0,020].
Conclusions: Very high self-reported health by the majority of young people with positive attitude to life shows that optimism is a strong predictor of subjective health. Positive parenting practices and good level of parental control, have a significant impact on optimism in teenagers.