ВРЪЗКАТА МЕЖДУ ОПТИМИЗЪМ И ДЕПРЕСИЯ: ПРИНОСЪТ НА ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИТЕ ФАКТОРИ ЗА ОПТИМАЛНО ФУНКЦИОНИРАНЕ И ВЪЗМОЖНОСТИ ЗА ПРЕВЕНЦИЯ
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPTIMISM AND DEPRESSION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS TO OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREVENTION

Summary/Abstract: The concept of optimism is a regulatory personality characteristic with a strong influence on the optimal functioning of a person. Optimism is a positive psychological phenomenon, characterized by a focus on one’s own resources, positive thinking about the future, coping with life’s challenges and expecting positive results. Depression is a common mental illness worldwide, with high social significance. It affects all aspects of a person’s life, impairs quality of life, functioning and in some cases leads to disability. The relationship between optimism and depression is complex, conditioned by many psychological factors, and is of great interest to psychological science. This report examines the contribution of psychological factors to optimal functioning and, in addition, presents possibilities for the prevention of the risk of depression, through the development of optimism. The optimistic lifestyle is characterized by improved mental health, resilience in stressful situations, good relationships, efficiency in making decisions in difficult life situations, positive rethinking and planning, satisfaction with life, as well as preparing effective strategies for prevention and overcoming negative mental experiences and states. Optimism is associated with mental well-being and a reduced risk of developing depression. Understanding and improving the psychological factors involved in the development of optimism may be essential to the development of effective strategies to improve mental health. Therapeutic work with generalized expectation optimism as a regulatory function supporting mental health could open new opportunities and directions in psychological help for prevention, in the process of treatment, recovery and anti-relapse in persons with depression.

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