![]() Thus, the equation was Y = a + b 1 X 1 + b 2 X 2 + b 3 X 1 X 2. In the second step, the two-way interaction was entered, either Dispositional Optimism × Objective Risk or Health-related Optimism × Objective Risk. In the first step, the centered dispositional optimism (or the centered health-related optimism) and the centered objective risk were entered. The independent variables were entered in two steps. The dependent variables were the fixation durations on neutral texts, negative texts, mole images, or cancer images, respectively. We also examined the two-way interactions, Dispositional Optimism × Objective Risk and Health-related Optimism × Objective Risk, separately, without the three-way interaction. We did not examine the interaction between unrealistic optimism and objective risk, since unrealistic optimism was measured by controlling for objective risk. Thus, we did not report these results from the subscales in this article. The interactions involving pessimism scores were significant except for the mole images, and also demonstrated the same direction as the LOT scores. ![]() ![]() For example, in the hierarchical regression models testing the interactions, all the interactions involving optimism scores were found significant both before and after controlling for covariates, and showed the same direction as the LOT scores. The findings from the subscales of optimism and pessimism were basically same as the findings from the LOT (dispositional optimism). We also examined the relations between the subscale of optimism or pessimism from the LOT and the dependent measures on attention, memory, and behavior. Thus demographic factors were not included in the final data analyses in this study. However, no significant relationship was revealed between these demographic variables and the measures of attention, memory, and behavior. ![]() We also conducted preliminary regression analyses to identify significant relationships between demographic variables (age, sex, level of education, ethnicity, etc.) and the outcome variables (attentional, memory, and behavioral variables) to determine the need for covariates. Dispositional and health-related optimism therefore appear to predict health-related cognition and behavior in distinct ways. In addition, optimistic beliefs were found not to be related with unrealistic optimism. Results show that individuals low in dispositional optimism or high in health-related optimism paid more attention when they were at high objective risk of developing skin cancer and individuals high in dispositional optimism or high in health-related optimism were more likely to perform adaptive, health-promoting behaviors. Additionally, participants’ self-reported skin cancer-relevant behavior was assessed prospectively in the months following the lab component of the study. Visual attention to the slides was recorded using eye tracking, and their memory for the information was measured. Sixty-five young adults (ages 18–35) reported skin cancer-related knowledge and behaviors, and read slides of information on skin and skin cancer. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how optimists process health-related information.
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