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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Age-related differences and change in positive and negative affect over 23 years
S T Charles1, C A Reynolds, M Gatz
1Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine 92697-7085, USA. scharles@uci.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Negative affect consistently decreased with age across four generations, while positive affect remained stable for younger adults but declined slightly in older adults. Personality traits like neuroticism and extraversion influenced these emotional trajectories over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Sociology
Background:
- Affective balance, encompassing positive and negative affect, is crucial for understanding psychological well-being across the lifespan.
- Longitudinal studies are essential for tracking changes in affect over extended periods and across different generational cohorts.
- The influence of personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, on emotional experiences requires further investigation within diverse age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine generational differences in the trajectories of positive and negative affect from 1971 to 1994.
- To investigate the impact of neuroticism and extraversion on initial affect levels and their changes over time.
- To analyze affect patterns across four generations within a longitudinal family sample.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale to measure positive and negative affect.
- Employed linear trend analyses to compare affect changes across four generations over a 23-year period (1971-1994).
- Assessed the influence of neuroticism and extraversion on affect levels and developmental trends.
Main Results:
- Negative affect demonstrated a consistent decrease with age across all generations, though this decline was less pronounced in the oldest adults.
- Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with a slower decrease in negative affect over time.
- Positive affect remained stable in younger and middle-aged adults but showed a slight decrease in older adults; higher extraversion correlated with greater stability in positive affect.
Conclusions:
- Age is a significant factor in the reduction of negative affect, with personality traits moderating this relationship.
- Positive affect exhibits age-related stability in younger and middle-aged individuals, but declines in older age, influenced by extraversion.
- This study highlights the dynamic interplay between aging, personality, and emotional well-being across multiple generations.
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