Poursardar N¹ * (MA), Poursardar F² (MA), Panahandeh A³ (MA), Sangari A⁴ (MA), Abdi Zarrin S⁵ (PhD)

  ¹ Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ahvaz University, Ahvaz, Iran 

  ² Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tarbiat Moalem University, Tehran, Iran

  ³ Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Unity, Shiraz, Iran

  ⁴ Department of Educational Research, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences,

  Tarbiat Moalem University, Tehran, Iran

  ⁵ Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

  Received: 21 Jun 2012, Accepted: 14 Mar 2013

  Abstract

  Introduction: Positive psychology is a new approach in the psychology science to move from psychopathology treatment to optimization of life quality. Optimism, a subset of positive psychology approach, is a positive human characteristic. During the last decade, optimism had a special place in the field of developmental psychology, family psychology and mental health. This study aimed to assess the effect of optimism on mental health and life satisfaction.

  Methods: In this cross-sectional-descriptive study, 178 teachers (86 males and 92 females) were selected using randomized cluster sampling from Ramshir schools. All participants completed the Life Circuit Questionnaire (LOT-R ( , General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Demographic Inventory. Data was analyzed using the Multiple Stepwise Regression analysis .

  Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 32.16 (5.70). Results of the Hierarchical Multiple Regression method showed significant intermediate role of mental health in relationship between optimism (p<0.001) and life satisfaction (p<0.001).

  Conclusion: Optimism could positively affect life satisfaction through increasing mental health. Moreover, resilience had indirect effect on life satisfaction.

  Key words: optimism, mental health, satisfaction with life

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Poursardar N, Poursardar F, Panahandeh A, Sangari A, Abdi Zarrin S. Effect of Optimism on Mental Health and Life Satisfaction: A Psychological Model of Well-being. Hakim Research Journal 2013 16(1): 42- 49.

  * Corresponding Author: Khuzestan, Ramshir, Bureau of Education. Tel: +98- 692- 2622213. E-mail: Poursardar@gmail.com