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Introduction: Optimism and pessimism are two psychological constructs that play a significant role in human mental and psychological hygiene. The two construct are strongly but negatively correlated. Optimism and pessimism can be influenced by culture and the environment. The present study attempts to test the structure of optimism and pessimism across two countries: United Arab Emirates and Oman. Also, physical education students were compared to non-physical education students. Method: College students from SQU in Oman (n = 103) and the UAEU (n = 200) participated in the study. The sample was a convenient one. The SQU sample was primarily physical education students (males = 60, females = 43). The instrument consisted of thirty Likert-type items. Optimism was measured by 15 items and so as pessimism. Results: Exploratory factor analysis clearly identified two factors rather than one bipolar factor. The number of factors (2), the pattern of factor loadings, the factor correlations and uniqueness were invariant across P.E. and non P.E samples. MANOVA revealed that P.E. subjects were more optimistic than non P.E. subjects. However, no significant difference was found in pessimism between P.E. and non P.E. subjects. Discussion and Conclusion: The results revealed that optimism and pessimism can influenced by the immediate environment as well as the type of study. It terms of structure, the instrument was as valid and reliable in Oman and UAE as it was valid and reliable in Kuwait where the instrument was originally developed and standardized. (Contains 4 tables.)

A study tested a structural model that involves training variables and work environment variables in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Data collected from 113 people with a disability in the training program and work environment indicated psychological support and suitability of the training environment positively affected their views of their work. (Author/CR)

The aim of this study was to determine the usability of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) by investigating its psychometric properties with an Arab sample of school students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Adaptations were made to some verbal items to fit the Emirates society. Some items of this scale were translated into Arabic language; other items were developed. The sample for this study consisted of 1721 individuals with an age range from 6-28 years from all geographic locations in the UAE, and was proportionally distributed between males and females. Data were analyzed with various procedures such as the analysis of variance and SEM. Stability and reliability estimates were computed for the subtests and the total IQ sca1es for each age group and for each gender, and all were adequate. The four scales discriminated well among the age groups and among normal individuals and individuals with special needs thus providing support to its usability for clinical assessment. The SEM analysis confirmed the structure of the scale with verbal and performance scales moderately correlated (.66). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]