Optimism and perceived competence: The same or different constructs?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between optimism and perceived competence. Dispositional optimism, dispositional perceived competence, and optimism and perceived competence related to health, exams and social relationships were measured in a sample of 237 undergraduates. Stability of the dispositional measures and of the optimism related to exams was also tested using a sub-sample of 83 of the undergraduates from whom we had the same measurements taken three years before. Partial correlations revealed that dispositional scales for both optimism and perceived competence were related to their domain-specific versions; however, the domain-specific versions were not related between one another. Canonical correlations revealed two latent factors for dispositional scales: the first one shared by optimism and perceived competence, can be viewed as expecting positive outcomes. The second factor distinguishes between optimism and perceived competence. These two factors were also found for domain-specific scales. Finally, the dispositional measures and the optimism related to exams have proved to be stable over three years. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning and practical usefulness of all these measures.