Scheier & Carver's (Health Psychology, 4, 219-247, 1985) optimism scale was used to study the relationships between optimism and eight coping styles. Significant correlations were found: Optimism correlated with Minimization, Suppression, Seeking Succorance, Blame, Substitution and Reversal. Seeking Succorance was in the same direction for men and women, the other five styles being in opposite directions. Similarities were found between the findings of this study and those between humour-another stress-buffering stategy-and coping styles (Rim, Personality and individual Differences, 8, 559-564, 1988b). © 1990.