The Role of Optimism in Reducing Psychological Distress Amongst Women in Urban Areas

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Open Access

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nThis is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.n

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Year : 2025 [if 2224 equals=””]10/09/2025 at 12:16 AM[/if 2224] | [if 1553 equals=””] Volume : 02 [else] Volume : [/if 1553] | [if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”]Issue : [/if 424][if 424 equals=”Special Issue”]Special Issue[/if 424] [if 424 equals=”Conference”][/if 424] 02 | Page :

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    Hanisha Garg,

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  1. Student, Department of Applied Psychology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Abstract

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nThis paper aims to explore the role of optimism in reducing psychological distress among women living in urban areas. Psychological distress, encompassing anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, has become increasingly prevalent due to the fast-paced and demanding nature of urban life. Women, in particular, face unique stressors including work-life imbalances, financial pressures, safety concerns, and societal expectations, which contribute significantly to elevated levels of mental strain. Finding healthy coping strategies is essential for fostering mental health as urbanization continues to change lifestyles. The study adopted a quantitative research methodology, using standardized psychological scales to measure levels of optimism and psychological distress among a sample of urban women. Statistical analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between optimism and psychological distress, indicating that higher levels of optimism are associated with lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. The findings draw upon theoretical perspectives such as Positive Psychology Theory, which emphasizes the role of optimism in fostering emotional well-being, Resilience Theory, which illustrates how optimistic individuals better navigate adversity, and Cognitive Appraisal Theory, which explains how optimistic appraisal of stressors leads to more adaptive coping. In conclusion, the study highlights optimism as a key protective factor against psychological distress and underscores the need for interventions that cultivate optimistic thinking in urban women to enhance their mental health and resilience in high-stress environments.nn

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Keywords: Optimism, Psychological distress, Urban women , Mental well-being, Urbanization and stress, Community Based Approach

n[if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”][This article belongs to International Journal of Trends in Humanities ]

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[/if 424][if 424 equals=”Special Issue”][This article belongs to Special Issue under section in International Journal of Trends in Humanities (ijth)][/if 424][if 424 equals=”Conference”]This article belongs to Conference [/if 424]

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How to cite this article:
nHanisha Garg. [if 2584 equals=”][226 wpautop=0 striphtml=1][else]The Role of Optimism in Reducing Psychological Distress Amongst Women in Urban Areas[/if 2584]. International Journal of Trends in Humanities. 10/09/2025; 02(02):-.

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How to cite this URL:
nHanisha Garg. [if 2584 equals=”][226 striphtml=1][else]The Role of Optimism in Reducing Psychological Distress Amongst Women in Urban Areas[/if 2584]. International Journal of Trends in Humanities. 10/09/2025; 02(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijth/article=10/09/2025/view=0

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1. American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
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6. Liu, X., Yu, X., Zhang, W., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Optimism and mental health in college students: The mediating role of sleep quality and perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1267890.
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[if 424 not_equal=””][else]Ahead of Print[/if 424] Subscription Original Research

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Volume 02
[if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”]Issue[/if 424][if 424 equals=”Special Issue”]Special Issue[/if 424] [if 424 equals=”Conference”][/if 424] 02
Received 12/06/2025
Accepted 13/08/2025
Published 10/09/2025
Retracted
Publication Time 90 Days

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