Optimism is an important psychological resource that influences how individuals interpret challenges, regulate emotions, maintain motivation, and adapt to changing academic and personal circumstances. The present study examines the role of optimism in academic and personal adjustment among university students, with particular attention to academic engagement, emotional well-being, social adjustment, coping effectiveness, and resilience. A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional research design was employed. The study included 320 undergraduate and postgraduate students selected from diverse academic disciplines. Data were collected using a structured self-report questionnaire incorporating measures of optimism and major dimensions of adjustment.
Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to examine relationships among the study variables. The findings indicated that students reporting higher levels of optimism also demonstrated stronger academic adjustment, personal adjustment, resilience, coping effectiveness, and social integration. Optimism showed positive associations with academic adjustment and personal adjustment, while lower optimism was associated with greater adjustment difficulties. Regression findings further suggested that optimism contributed meaningfully to the prediction of overall adjustment.