In Norway people are traumatized every day, but the extent of this is unknown. Individual differences may be crucial why some people develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others do not. One possible factor may be ones personality. During the last decades, the influence of personality factors like dispositional optimism has attracted growing interest. Optimism has been associated with better health, both mentally and physically. Therefore, we assume that low level of optimism (i.e. Pessimism) is associated with PTSD, fatigue and fear of flying. The Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) is often used to measure the personality trait optimism-pessimism. Only two studies one from Germany and one from South America have been identified that provide norm data for the LOT-R. However, data from one country cannot simply be transferred to another. To interpret findings from studies of different populations in Norway, one needs norm data the general Norwegian population. The study intends to provide norm data for LOT-R, mapping prevalence of trauma, fear of flying and examine relationships between optimism, PTSD, fatigue and fear of flying.
