Dynamics of Optimism, Anxiety and Coping Strategies in Residents of Vishakhapatnam Affected by Hudhud Cyclone: An Ex-Post Facto Study

Optimism as defined by Scheier and Carver is the global generalized tendency to believe that one will generally experience good versus bad outcomes in life. The vague sense of being in danger is usually called anxiety. Coping strategies encompass cognitive and behavioural strategies used to manage stress situations or/and to attend negative emotions. The objective of this study is to study the relationship between Optimism, State and Trait Anxiety and Coping Strategies. A non-probability convenience sampling method was employed to select participants in the age group 20 - 60 years (men and women) from the city of Visakhapatnam. The Life Orientation Scale (Scheier et al., 1994), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults by Charles D. Spielberger, 1977 and Coping Strategies Scale by A. K. Srivastava, 2001 were used to collect the data. The data analysis revealed significant positive correlations between Optimism and the five dimensions of Coping namely Behavioural Approach, Cognitive Approach, Cognitive Behavioural Approach, Behavioural Avoidance and Cognitive Avoidance and State and Trait Anxiety. The data analysis also revealed a significant negative correlation between State anxiety and Behavioural, Cognitive and Cognitive Behavioural Approaches of Coping and Trait anxiety and Behavioural and Cognitive Behavioural approaches of Coping. The within group design results show a significant difference between men and women in levels of Optimism and two dimensions of Coping namely Behavioural Approach and Cognitive Behavioural Approach. Providing psychosocial interventions to improve Optimism will facilitate anxiety reduction and effective coping.