OTIMISMO NOS JOVENS DO ENSINO SUPERIOR DE PORTUGAL: UMA ANÁLISE DAS PROPRIEDADES PSICOMÉTRICAS DA LOT-R

Hugo Carvalho; Carolina  Resende; Ester Jeunon; Otaviano  Neves; Ricardo  Pocinho; Sonia  Casillas-Martín; Francisco García-Peñalvo

doi:10.29073/e3.v12i1.1054

PDF (Português (Portugal))

Published: Jun 14, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v12i1.1054

Keywords:

Dispositional optimism Life Orientation Test-Revised psychometric properties university students

Hugo Carvalho

Higher Institute of Information and Administration Sciences of Aveiro / CIDETH, Portugal

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3274-5571

Carolina Resende

Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6987-1603

Ester Jeunon

Pedro Leopoldo College, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5158-0151

Otaviano Neves

Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5776-3154

Ricardo Pocinho

Leiria Polytechnic Institute, Portugal

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1307-5434

Sonia Casillas-Martín

University of Salamanca, Spain

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5304-534X

Francisco García-Peñalvo

University of Salamanca, Spain

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9987-5584

Abstract

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the LOT-R (Life Orientation Test-Revised) in a sample of 934 Portuguese university students. A descriptive quantitative design was adopted, with random sampling and data collection through a structured electronic questionnaire. The adequacy of the correlation matrix for factor analysis was confirmed by the KMO index = 0.70 (acceptable value) and by the Bartlett sphericity test (χ² = 1034.63; p < 0.0001), indicating significant correlations between the items. The internal consistency of the scale, assessed by Cronbach's alpha, reached 0.68, which is considered adequate for brief personality scales and consistent with previous studies conducted in Portugal (Laranjeira, 2008) and Brazil (Bandeira et al., 2002). The exploratory factor analysis, with two-factor extraction without rotation, corroborated the proposed theoretical structure, which differentiates Optimism and Non-pessimism. Factor 1 (Optimism) explained 39.18% of the total variance, while Factor 2 (Non-pessimism) contributed additionally, reaching 60.12% of the joint variance. The factor loadings of the positive items in Factor 1 ranged from 0.456 to 0.703. On the other hand, the negative items presented high loads in Factor 1 (0.430 to 0.742) and negative loads in Factor 2 (-0.312 to -0.620), confirming the two-factor pattern characteristic of the instrument. The results indicate that the Portuguese version of the LOT-R has satisfactory psychometric properties for use in university populations, supporting its validity as a measure of dispositional optimism. The observed two-factor structure is in line with international evidence (Marshall et al., 1992; Ribeiro et al., 2012; Bastianello et al., 2014), reinforcing the conceptual robustness and cross-cultural applicability of the instrument. These findings contribute to the study of positive dispositional variables which, together with motivational constructs such as implicit theories of intelligence (Dweck & Leggett, 1988), help predict patterns of adaptation and persistence at critical moments of academic transition.

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Carvalho, H., Resende , C. ., Jeunon, E., Neves , O. ., Pocinho, R. ., Casillas-Martín, S. ., & García-Peñalvo, F. (2026). OPTIMISM IN YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PORTUGAL: AN ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF LOT-R. E3 — Revista De Economia, Empresas E Empreendedores Na CPLP, 12(1), 157–173. https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v12i1.1054

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): V.12 N.1 (E3 - Revista de Economia, Empresas e Empreendedores na CPLP)

Section

Articles

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Author Biographies

Hugo Carvalho, Higher Institute of Information and Administration Sciences of Aveiro / CIDETH, Portugal

A dedicated university professor, he serves as a coordinating professor at several higher education institutions, including ISCIA (where he is also a member of the technical-scientific council, vice-president of the ethics committee, and part of the editorial team for the multidisciplinary journal Modus Operandis), the University of Beira Interior, ISCAP, ISLA Gaia, CESPU, IEES, Universidade Europeia, and AEAAV.

In parallel, he holds key leadership roles in the business and clinical sectors: he is CEO and general director of Neuro IT — a company focused on applied neuroscience research and development —, research director at the same organization, a board member and director of the mental health unit at Fisicare (in Aveiro, where he also works as a clinician on the team), an active business angel, and the founder of several innovative projects such as “Negócios à (Sobre)Mesa,” PIGO, the Aveiro Business Angels Club (ABAC), Geisertech, and national ambassador for Ignite Portugal.

His academic background is exceptionally broad and diverse, spanning design to neurosciences, management, engineering, communication, health sciences, medical sciences, and forensics. He earned his PhD in applied neurosciences (specializing in brain mapping of human emotions and collection of neurophysiological signals for brain-computer interfaces) from the University of Beira Interior, is a PhD candidate in knowledge society training at the University of Salamanca, holds specialist titles (by public examination) in communication sciences and in marketing and advertising from ISCIA Aveiro, master’s degrees in design and in neurosciences (with a specialization in cognitive rehabilitation) from the University of Aveiro, and graduate certification in Medical Neurosciences from Duke University, along with additional training as a neuroscience educator from the University of Buenos Aires.

As a researcher, he is affiliated with leading centers such as CIDETH at ISCIA, LIPIS at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, CICS.NOVA at FCSH-New University of Lisbon (and has also collaborated with PsyLab-NeuroLab at the University of Aveiro). He also serves as an expert evaluator for ANQEP in EQAVET quality standards for vocational education and training, and participates in external evaluation teams for the Inspectorate-General of Education and Science (IGEC).

Over the years, Hugo Carvalho has consistently been recognized for his exceptional networking skills (named Networker of the Year from 2013 to 2024), excellence in training (Trainer of the Year 2024), social merit (Gold Degree from ANGES), innovation (DGD Google Innovation Award 2024), and pedagogical competence in technology (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2023-2024).

He is co-author and coordinator of several published works, including Gestão de Empresas com Pessoas a Bordo, Corporator: Como Evitar os Principais Erros de Gestão, Volumes I and II of Networking 100 Cenas, and Strategia: Análise do Ambiente Estratégico das Empresas, as well as maintaining the blog Educar 100 (Cem) Cenas.

A dedicated university professor, he serves as a coordinating professor at several higher education institutions, including ISCIA (where he is also a member of the technical-scientific council, vice-president of the ethics committee, and part of the editorial team for the multidisciplinary journal Modus Operandis), the University of Beira Interior, ISCAP, ISLA Gaia, CESPU, IEES, Universidade Europeia, and AEAAV.
In parallel, he holds key leadership roles in the business and clinical sectors: he is CEO and general director of Neuro IT — a company focused on applied neuroscience research and development —, research director at the same organization, a board member and director of the mental health unit at Fisicare (in Aveiro, where he also works as a clinician on the team), an active business angel, and the founder of several innovative projects such as “Negócios à (Sobre)Mesa,” PIGO, the Aveiro Business Angels Club (ABAC), Geisertech, and national ambassador for Ignite Portugal.
His academic background is exceptionally broad and diverse, spanning design to neurosciences, management, engineering, communication, health sciences, medical sciences, and forensics. He earned his PhD in applied neurosciences (specializing in brain mapping of human emotions and collection of neurophysiological signals for brain-computer interfaces) from the University of Beira Interior, is a PhD candidate in knowledge society training at the University of Salamanca, holds specialist titles (by public examination) in communication sciences and in marketing and advertising from ISCIA Aveiro, master’s degrees in design and in neurosciences (with a specialization in cognitive rehabilitation) from the University of Aveiro, and graduate certification in Medical Neurosciences from Duke University, along with additional training as a neuroscience educator from the University of Buenos Aires.
As a researcher, he is affiliated with leading centers such as CIDETH at ISCIA, LIPIS at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, CICS.NOVA at FCSH-New University of Lisbon (and has also collaborated with PsyLab-NeuroLab at the University of Aveiro). He also serves as an expert evaluator for ANQEP in EQAVET quality standards for vocational education and training, and participates in external evaluation teams for the Inspectorate-General of Education and Science (IGEC).
Over the years, Hugo Carvalho has consistently been recognized for his exceptional networking skills (named Networker of the Year from 2013 to 2024), excellence in training (Trainer of the Year 2024), social merit (Gold Degree from ANGES), innovation (DGD Google Innovation Award 2024), and pedagogical competence in technology (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2023-2024).
He is co-author and coordinator of several published works, including Gestão de Empresas com Pessoas a Bordo, Corporator: Como Evitar os Principais Erros de Gestão, Volumes I and II of Networking 100 Cenas, and Strategia: Análise do Ambiente Estratégico das Empresas, as well as maintaining the blog Educar 100 (Cem) Cenas.

Carolina Resende, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD in Psychology, university professor, researcher in socio-emotional competencies, corporate mental health, and consultant on NR-1 with an emphasis on psychosocial risk management.

Ester Jeunon, Pedro Leopoldo College, Brazil

Faculdad

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the Faculdade de Ciências Humanas da Fundação Mineira de Educação - FUMEC (1984), a Master's degree in Administration from FACE/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1997), and a PhD in Psychology from the Universidade de Brasília - UNB and Newcastle University, Australia (2004).

She is currently a professor at Faculdade Pedro Leopoldo and an Associate Professor IV at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais - PUC Minas, where she coordinates the Incubadora Ideias (Ideas Incubator) - Betim unit. She leads the research group NUPET-GES (Núcleo de Pesquisa e Tecnologias em Gestão, Educação e Sustentabilidade - Research and Technologies Center in Management, Education, and Sustainability), which brings together professors from various courses and educational institutions (primary, technical, and higher education) and integrates the NESTEMAN - Núcleo de Estudos em Estratégias, Marketing e Negócios (Center for Studies in Strategies, Marketing, and Business) of the MPA/FPL.

She is the Executive Director of Kairós Treinamento em Desenvolvimento Organizacional Ltda and Espaço Terapêutico Jeito de Si. She has extensive experience in higher education teaching (undergraduate, lato sensu and stricto sensu postgraduate programs) as well as in management and consulting for public, private, and third-sector organizations. She serves as an Academic Leader in international programs at IBS AMÉRICAS - International Business School. She is a peer reviewer for various national and international journals and conferences.

She works in the fields of Administration and Psychology, with both technical and behavioral approaches. Her research interests include: marketing and consumer behavior, economic behavior, innovation and sustainability, and research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative). She is currently developing studies on Innovation Indicators for micro and small enterprises, sustainability, and transformative consumption.

This translation preserves the original meaning, academic tone, and structure while using natural and precise English terminology (e.g., "Associate Professor IV" for "professor adjunto IV", "Incubator" for "Incubadora", etc.). If you need a shorter version (e.g., for a bio in a book chapter) or adjustments for a specific context, let me know!

Otaviano Neves , Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Professor Adjunto IV da PUC Minas

Ricardo Pocinho, Leiria Polytechnic Institute, Portugal

Associate Professor

Sonia Casillas-Martín, University of Salamanca, Spain

full professor

Francisco García-Peñalvo, University of Salamanca, Spain

full professor

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