When life gives you lemons make lemonade: cross-sectional age and gender differences in optimism
| Pages | 213-228 |
| Published date | 05 August 2019 |
| Date | 05 August 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-05-2018-0031 |
| Author | Teena Bharti,Santosh Rangnekar |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour,Global HRM |
When life gives you lemons make
lemonade: cross-sectional age and
gender differences in optimism
Teena Bharti and Santosh Rangnekar
Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee, India
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to test the cognitive construct of optimism (positive future outcome
expectancies) and the age-gender differences in Indian sample.
Design/methodology/approach –The sample consists of 363 older, middle-aged and younger male and
female employees. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey based research design.
Findings –Results revealed that middle-aged employees have high levels of optimism as compared to the old
age and younger employees. Further, the males reflected high optimism levels in comparison to female
employees in middle and old aged adult employees, whereas females have higher optimism level in younger
age in Indian select organisations.
Research limitations/implications –The study suggests that the continuous changes in the lifespan lead
to changes in one’s attitude and hence results in behavioural changes. The research indicates that optimism
should be cultivated in the individuals by providing training and development to promote the competence
and skill-building events which would help in enhancing the productivity resulting in better understanding of
the scenario at workplace.
Originality/value –The work supplements the existing literature on positive attitude or outcome
expectancies by adding to the lifespan development theory.
Keywords Optimism, Gender differences, Age differences, Indian study, Lifespan theory, Personal optimism,
Self-efficacy optimism
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Research on age-related patterns has remained a fundamentally interesting topic for
psychologists who examine trait like features reflecting individual personality differences
(Anusic et al., 2012). As an agentic trait or the means by which an individual carries out the
personal agency,optimism has been related to the development of humans andhence gained
its place in positivepsychology. This hasfurther led to the enlightenmentand identification of
various theories to define constructs such as optimism, happiness and others (Bailey et al.,
2007). Scheierand Carver (1987) defined optimismas “an attitude or mood associatedwith an
expectation about the social or material future –one which the evaluator regards as socially
desirable, to his [or her] advantage or pleasure”. Also, Gavrilov-Jerkovićet al. (2014) defined
optimism as thegeneral expectation of positiveoutcomes without emphasisingthe agent who
controls the outcome. Therefore, optimism is observed as an affective, cognitive and
motivational construct (Peterson, 2002). Numerous studies have established that optimism is
related to better coping strategies (Scheier et al., 1986), adjustment to college (Aspinwall and
Taylor, 1992), lif e satisfaction (Ba iley et al., 2007; Hayes and Weathington, 2007), career
(Rosettes and Tost, 2010), social support (Ekas et al., 2010; Martínez-Martí and Ruch, 2017)
Evidence-based HRM: a Global
Forum for Empirical Scholarship
Vol. 7 No. 2, 2019
pp. 213-228
© Emerald PublishingLimited
2049-3983
DOI 10.1108/EBHRM-05-2018-0031
Received 9 May 2018
Revised 21 August 2018
10 October 2018
13 October 2018
Accepted 14 October 2018
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2049-3983.htm
Conflict of interest: the authors declare that the authors have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval:
all procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical
standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the Helsinki declaration and
its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent: informed consent was
obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
213
Cross-sectional
age and gender
differences in
optimism
as well as in better physical and psychological well-being (Joo and Lee, 2017). Further, very
little researchis available on how age influencesoptimism levels (You et al., 2009),especially in
a diverse nation likeIndia. Hence, the current study aims to bridgethis gap by examining the
age differences and e xploring the moderation eff ect of gender in a cross-sect ional study.
The objectives of this study are:
•to empirically examine the effect of age (younger, middle-aged and older age) on the
cognitive construct of optimism (personal optimism and self-efficacy optimism) in
Indian employees; and
•to empirically examine the moderation effect of gender on the relationship between
age and optimism in the Indian employees.
1.1 The Indian context
An emerging economy like India is considered the site for different cultures and further
characterised by the inter-related concept of self (Mascolo et al., 2004). Additionally,
studies have clarified the distinct attributional styles of those who have independent
and interdependent concepts of self while drawing their non-western samples from eastern
countries like India. Various researchers have classified the East Asian cultures (including
India) as collectivistic rather than individualistic (Triandis and Suh, 2002).
Further, Indians are considered to be highly optimistic as a result of socio-economic and
technological growth and a relative stability of the political system which differentiates it
from many western nations. The early Vedic philosophies believed in the concept of
optimism because people thought that through prayer, magic and co-operation with and by
natural powers or Gods, all things are possible. Scholars such as K.P. Rao interpreted the
Vedic studies and reflected that the ancient texts celebrate life, offering a sense of optimism
and hope; they, in fact, negate pessimism.
Similarly, Corliss (2014) mentioned that the third element of religion refers to beliefs
and assumptions which include optimism and the tones of pessimism are missing.
Another major difference between western and non-western countries (like India) is the
philosophy and ideologies of nations. Furthermore, as per a survey conducted by Ipsos
MORI across 20 countries in 2014, people in western nations like Belgium, the USA, Spain,
France, western Europe and Britain express hugely negative and pessimistic views,
compared to non-western nations like India, China, Brazil, Turkey and Russia. Also,
Indian youth is more optimistic about the future of oneself and society, relative to the
general picture in other countries where individuals tend to be personal optimists and
societal pessimists.
2. Theoretical background
2.1 Lifespan development theory
Lifespan theorists and researchers remindusthateachperiodinlifehasitsown
developmental challenges. Baltes et al. (1998) suggested that development does not cease
when adulthood is attained. Lifespan is multifaceted in nature and developmental changes
involve an essential aspect of human action along with a momentum of personal
development over the lifespan (Baltes, 1987). The theory of lifespan development suggests
that intra-individual variability concerning traits and characteristics develop throughout
the lifespan. Further, lifespan is led by a variable environment and a culture which helps
in shaping intra-individual personality traits like optimism, hope, efficacy, etc. throughout
life (Georgellis and Sankae, 2016). The theory emphasises the cognitive, emotive
and societal development of an individual by embracing the developmental stages over
an entire lifespan.
214
EBHRM
7,2
To continue reading
Request your trial