Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
06:58
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Fewer ups and downs: daily stressors mediate age differences in negative affect.
Susan Turk Charles1, Gloria Luong, David M Almeida
1Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, 3340 Social Ecology II, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA. scharles@uci.edu
Summary
Older women experience fewer daily stressors and less negative emotion. Reduced exposure to daily stressors helps explain why older adults have less negative affect as they age.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Emotional experience in aging is complex.
- Daily life events influence mood and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine age differences in daily stressors and positive events (uplifts).
- Investigate the association between daily experiences and emotional states in older women.
Main Methods:
- 101 healthy women (63-93 years old) participated.
- Participants reported daily stressors and uplifts over one week.
- Emotional experiences (positive and negative affect) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Older age correlated with fewer daily stressors and less negative affect.
- The link between negative affect and age disappeared when controlling for stressors.
- Older age was not significantly linked to positive affect, but uplifts decreased with age.
Conclusions:
- Reduced exposure to daily stressors partially explains age-related decreases in negative affect.
- Daily life context is crucial for understanding emotional well-being in later life.
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