al, 396). The study is also important because it outlines predictors of dispositional behavior. These include among other things the patients emotional well-being, understanding of their illness, general perception of their health and familial support.

Giltay, et. al, (2004) examine the relationship between dispositional optimism and all-cause mortality. Their findings suggest that a protective relationship exists between dispositional optimism and health. The study specifically found that of 941 subjects, the number of deaths among individuals with a higher level of pessimism was much greater than among those with a more optimistic attitude. The results were adjusted fro behavioral factors that might impact mortality, including smoking and alcohol consumption, body mass index and other physiological factors.

Matthews, Raikkonen, Sutton-Tyrrell & Kuller (2004) find that optimistic patients are more likely to report a higher quality of life and engage "in more active coping and health promoting behaviors than people with pessimism" (p....
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