Life Orientation Test (LOT-R)
Measure your dispositional optimism
Do you expect good things to happen in the future? The LOT-R measures dispositional optimism -- your general expectation that good things will happen. 10 items, about 3-5 minutes.
How optimistic are you?
Do you expect the future to work out? Or do you brace for the worst? The Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) measures dispositional optimism — a general tendency to hold positive expectations about what's coming next. 10 items, about 4 minutes.
Scheier, Carver, and Bridges created the LOT-R in 1994 as a revision of the original Life Orientation Test. Since then it's been widely used in health psychology: optimism turns out to predict not just mental wellbeing but physical health outcomes too, from cardiovascular recovery to immune function.
What it measures
The scale gives you a single score on a continuum from pessimistic to optimistic. It's not about specific expectations ("I'll ace this exam") but a broader tendency: do you generally expect good things to happen, or bad ones?
The researchers found that optimism and pessimism sit on a single bipolar dimension — not two separate traits. So you get one score, not two.
Quick stats
- Internal consistency: alpha = 0.74–0.84
- Test-retest: r = 0.79 (4 months), 0.72 (12 months), 0.68 (24 months) — fairly stable over time
- 6 scored items + 4 filler items (fillers aren't scored but make the scale less transparent)
- Score range: 0–24
What the scores mean
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0–12 | More pessimistic — you tend to expect less favorable outcomes |
| 13–17 | Moderate optimism — typical for most people |
| 18–24 | More optimistic — you generally expect things to go well |
A note
The LOT-R measures one dimension of personality. It doesn't tell you whether your outlook is "correct" — just where you fall on this particular spectrum. And it's a research tool, not a diagnostic instrument. If you're concerned about your mental health, it's always worth talking to someone qualified.
Reference: Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology*, 67(6), 1063-1078.
Scoring Guide
The LOT-R is scored using 6 scored items (3 optimism + 3 pessimism) to assess dispositional optimism:<br>• Optimism items: #1, #4, #10 (scored directly: 1→0, 2→1, 3→2, 4→3, 5→4)<br>• Pessimism items: #3, #7, #9 (reverse scored: 5→0, 4→1, 3→2, 2→3, 1→4)<br>• Total score range: 0-24<br>• Items #2, #5, #6, #8 are fillers (not scored)<br><br>Interpretation:<br>• 0-12: More pessimistic outlook<br>• 13-17: Moderate optimism<br>• 18-24: More optimistic outlook<br><br>Reference: Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(6), 1063-1078.Result Interpretation
After completing the 10 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.