Page No 170-179 Neeti Kaushal
University of Delhi, Delhi
Meetu Khosla and Anita Garg Mangla
Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi
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The study aims to assess the relationship between optimism, resilience, affect (positive
& negative) and perceived stress. It intends to examine the effect of perceived stress on
optimism, resilience, affect, and mental health. A sample of 503 participants within the
age group of 17-25 years (from North India) were selected for the present study using
purposive sampling. The tools used in this study included Life Orientation Test – Revised
(LOT-R; Scheier & Carver, 1994), Connor Davidson-Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson,
2003), Positive & Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) by Watson, Clark, and Tellegen,
General Health Questionnaire-12 by Goldberg, and Perceived Stress Scale by Cohen
et al. The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between perceived stress
and positive affect, optimism, resilience, and mental health while a positive significant
correlation was found between perceived stress and negative affect. Positive affect was
found to have a positive significant relationship with optimism and resilience while negative
affect exhibited a negative significant correlation with optimism and resilience. Optimism
and resilience were also found to be significantly associated with each other. The t-test
results showed significant differences between high and low stress group on positive
and negative affect. The participants falling in the low stress group demonstrated higher
optimism, resilience, and overall better mental health in comparison to the high stress
group. The findings of the present study highlight the protective role played by optimism,
resilience, and positive affect in mental health of young adults, simultaneously showing
the detrimental effects of stress and negative affect during the pandemic. The study
provides new insights in psychological research and suggest future directions