Comparing Three Optimism Scales in Mexican Americans

The main objective was to compare Life Orientation Test-Revised ( LOT-R ), Personal Optimism Scale ( POS ), and Brief Interactive Optimism Scale-G ( BIOS-G ) in construct validity, convergent validity, divergent validity, reliability, and internal convergent validity. A non-probabilistic sample of 136 Hispanic Americans, mostly Mexican Americans, participated. Their age M = 39.40 years old, SD = 11.52; 39 men, 97 women. Confirmatory factor analysis was used. The LOT-R and BIOS-G show construct validity, but not POS . BIOS-G achieves excellent internal convergent validity ( AVE = .78); an approximate LOT-R ( AVE = .45); POS ( AVE = .28) was poor. There is convergent validity among the three scales: BIOS-G and POS = r (136) = .38 ( d = moderate) (90% CI = .23, .68); BIOS-G and LOT-R = r (136) = .72 ( d = strong) (90% CI = .63, .89); and LOT-R and POS = r (136) = .45 ( d = moderate) (90% CI = .31, .73). Alphas and omegas were ( POS = .71, .74, respectively); ( LOT-R = .83, .83), and ( BIOS-G = .93, .93). There are no differences between men and women in optimism, according to the three scales, supporting in this way its divergent validity. It is concluded that since most of participants (68.40%) had university education, LOT-R measures well the construct, POS is not recommended, and BIOS-G can be used reliably as well in similar samples to that of the study.