Does Level of Optimism experience change while aging?

Subhana Mansoor, Kevin C. Kotigala

Department of Psychology, Forman Christian College and University
PSYC 220: Statistics for Psychology
Miss Noor Ul Huda
June 11, 2023
Variables involved are
1. Levels of Optimism
2. Age

Both are continuous variables, Age is a independent variable and Level of Optimism is
dependent variable.

The variables are appropriate for the analysis as they are related to our research.
The null hypothesis is that age [independent variable] has no effect on the Levels of Optimism
[dependent variable]

Ho : μ = x
The research hypothesis is that Age does have an effect on the Levels of Optimism
Two tests were carried out: Pearson Correlation and Independent Sample T-Tests
Correlations

Descriptive Statistics

Mean Std. Deviation N

age 37.44 13.202 439

Total Optimism 22.12 4.429 435

Correlations

age Total Optimism

Pearson Correlation 1 .201**

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

age Sum of Squares and Cross-products 76346.027 5082.014

Covariance 174.306 11.710

N 439 435
**
Pearson Correlation .201 1

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

Total Optimism Sum of Squares and Cross-products 5082.014 8513.021

Covariance 11.710 19.615

N 435 435

**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

Analysis:
Correlation is used to check the strength and direction of the relationship between the two
variables, where here both Age and Level of Optimism are continuous variables.

First is check for N- the number of cases where here it is 435.

Second is to determine the direction of the relationship between the two variables by looking at
the Pearson correlation coefficient which is 0.201 which is positive/direct relationship when one
variable increase than other variable increases and vice versa.

Third is to determine the strength/magnitude of the relationship by checking the size of the value
of correlation coefficient which is 0.201 which is small.

Results:

The relationship between Age (as measured by applicants input) and Level of Optimism (as
measured by the TOPTIM ) was investigated using Pearson product-moment correlation
coefficient. Preliminary analyses were performed to ensure no violation of the assumptions of
normality, linearity and homoscedasticity. There was a small positive correlation between the
two variables [ r=–.201, n=439, p<.001], with low levels of optimism being associated with
increase in age
Independent Sample T-Tests

Group Statistics

age N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean

>= 48 105 23.43 4.095 .400

Total Optimism
< 48 330 21.70 4.456 .245

Independent Samples Test

Levene's Test for t-test for Equality of Means

Equality of
Variances

F Sig. t df Sig. (2- Mean Std. Error 95% Confidence

tailed) Difference Difference Interval of the
Difference

Lower Upper

Equal
variances .081 .776 3.529 433 .000 1.729 .490 .766 2.691
Total assumed
Optimism Equal
variances not 3.687 188.658 .000 1.729 .469 .804 2.653
assumed

Analysis:

Age is treated as a categorical variable while Level of Optimism as continuous variable. This test
is used to see if there is any statistical differences in the mean score of the two groups to know
whether the level of optimism does change between those below 48 and above 48 years old.
First, we must check the significance value for Levene’s test which is 0.776 [which is larger than
0.05] and hence the variance of the scores of the two groups is the same.
Second, to know the whether there is a significant difference between the two groups we must
check the value of sig.(2-tailed) which is 0.0 which is less than 0.5 hence its significant.
Third, is to calculate the effect size using Eta squared to know what the magnitude of the
differences between the scores of the two groups is. The formula to calculate Eta squared is

= t2 / t2 + (N1 + N-2)
= 3.5292 / 3.5292 + (105 + 350 - 2)
= 0.027
Hence, the effect size is very small.

Results:

An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the Level of Optimism scores for
people below the age of 48 and above 48. There was a significant difference in scores for people
below 48 (M = 23.43, SD = 4.095) and above the age of 48 (M = 21.70, SD = 4.456; t (433) =
3.529, p = 0.776, two-tailed). The magnitude of the differences in the means (mean difference =
1.729, 95% CI: 0.766 to 2.691) was very small (eta squared = 0.027).

Literature Review:
The paper we reference has was interesting with regard to bringing cross cultural
aspects with regard to two different nations being the United States of America and China. The
results predicted there showed that different culture can have different effect on various age
groups with regard to level of optimism. Their research possessed an equal distribution of young
and older adults between both countries.
What is common was that both researches prove that age does have an impact on levels
of optimism within individuals. The referenced research looked at optimism in particular and
asked more relevant questions. If we were to do the same we could add the affects within a
religion collectivist culture within their research.
In conclusion, we reject the null hypothesis as age has an effect on the Levels of Optimism.

References:

DM;, Y. J. H. (2009). Age differences in dispositional optimism: A cross-cultural study.

European journal of ageing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28798608/