Table 3.

Means (M), standard deviations (SD) and significance (P values from single‐sample t tests analyses) of comparative optimism overall for each subscale and per item. Positive scores suggest comparative optimism, negative scores suggest comparative pessimism

Scale items Please think of the average person of your age and gender. Compared to them, how likely is it that…
	Mean (M)	SD	Sig.
Overall Subscale 1 (hospitalization/recovery)	0.47	0.90	<.001
If you get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19 you will need hospitalization?	0.12	1.06	<.003
If you get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19 you will need to be in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU)?	0.33	1.08	<.001
If you get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19 you will need to be in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and require a ventilator/ intubation?	0.43	1.08	<.001
If you get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19 you will make a full recovery?	1.00	0.86	<.001
Overall Subscale 2 (past or imminent infection of self/ others)	0.93	0.85	<.001
You have in the last month accidentally infected others with COVID‐19?	1.22	0.98	<.001
You will, within the next month, get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19?	0.65	1.04	<.001
You will, within the next month, accidentally infect others with COVID‐19?	0.93	1.02	<.001
Overall Subscale 3 (distant future infection of self/ others and symptoms development)	−0.28	0.73	<.001
If you get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19 you will develop symptoms?	−0.63	0.99	<.001
You will, within the next year, get infected (or re‐infected) with COVID‐19?	−0.27	0.96	<.001
You will, within the next year, infect others with COVID‐19?	0.07	1.04	.08 NS