Abstract
Greater busyness in older adults has been associated with better cognition. Varying levels of busyness may play a role in self-reported optimism at different point throughout adulthood. The amount of control one feels over their life may help to explain this relationship. This study tests the relationship of busyness and optimism in adults aged 19-66, while suggesting locus of control as a possible mediating factor. Participants (N = 127) recruited through Amazon’s MTurk program completed the busyness subscale of the Martin and Park Environmental Demands Questionnaire (MPED), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and a bi-dimensional measure of locus of control. Results revealed that busyness and optimism did not account for any variation in age. A hierarchical linear regression also showed, after controlling for age, that both internal and external locus of control accounted for a significant amount of variation in busyness scores. These results help reveal the nature of busyness, with some tasks imposed on individuals and others taken on by choice. Given the prevalence of busyness in many Western societies, more research is needed to better understand the psychological effects of busyness throughout adulthood.
Included in
Taking Care of Busyness: The Effects of a Busy Lifestyle on Optimism Across the Adult Lifespan
Greater busyness in older adults has been associated with better cognition. Varying levels of busyness may play a role in self-reported optimism at different point throughout adulthood. The amount of control one feels over their life may help to explain this relationship. This study tests the relationship of busyness and optimism in adults aged 19-66, while suggesting locus of control as a possible mediating factor. Participants (N = 127) recruited through Amazon’s MTurk program completed the busyness subscale of the Martin and Park Environmental Demands Questionnaire (MPED), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and a bi-dimensional measure of locus of control. Results revealed that busyness and optimism did not account for any variation in age. A hierarchical linear regression also showed, after controlling for age, that both internal and external locus of control accounted for a significant amount of variation in busyness scores. These results help reveal the nature of busyness, with some tasks imposed on individuals and others taken on by choice. Given the prevalence of busyness in many Western societies, more research is needed to better understand the psychological effects of busyness throughout adulthood.