ندى الرشود

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between optimism, pessimism and achievement motivation among a sample of university's students. Ansari's Optimism and Pessimism Scale, (1998), and achievement motivation scale (1986) were used to collect the data. The instruments were distributed to a sample 0f (N = 502) students from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic university. The result reveals positive correlation between optimism and achievement motivation, and negative correlation between pessimism and achievement motivation. The result indicate significant differences between males and females on optimism scale were males students more optimistic than females. In addition, significant differences were found between first level students and eight level (final level) students were eight level students more optimistic, while first level students more pessimistic than eight level students. There were no significant differences between married and unmarried in terms of optimism, The study found significant differences between married and unmarried in pessimism. unmarried students were more pessimistic than married students. In regards of achievement motivation, the result of this study revealed significant differences between married and unmarried students for the benefit of unmarried students. There were significant differences between the two genders in achievement motivation for the benefit of males, and eight level students as well. Recommendations for providing an effective guidance and counselling programme to students were suggested.