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Published on: August 26, 2011
Time-based indicators of emotional complexity: interrelations and correlates
Daniel Grühn1, Mark A Lumley, Manfred Diehl
1Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. Daniel_Gruehn@ncsu.edu
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|November 21, 2012
Summary
Time-based emotional complexity indicators reveal distinct components but are linked to lower well-being. High variability in negative affect may signal suboptimal emotional adjustment in adults.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Affective Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Emotional complexity is linked to adaptive emotion regulation in adults.
- Real-time emotion reports offer novel indicators of emotional complexity.
- The relationship between these indicators, other complexity measures, and well-being is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interrelations of time-based emotional complexity indicators.
- To examine the association between these indicators and cognitive-developmental measures of affective complexity.
- To assess the link between time-based emotional complexity and adaptive functioning, including well-being.
Main Methods:
- An experience-sampling study with 109 adults (aged 23-90).
- Participants reported negative and positive affect five times daily for one week.
- Nine time-based indicators of emotional complexity were calculated.
Main Results:
- Indicators suggested four distinct components of emotional complexity.
- Age was unrelated to most indicators, but older adults had lower negative affect variability.
- Emotional complexity indicators were unrelated or inversely related to well-being, predicting a less adaptive profile.
Conclusions:
- Time-based emotional complexity indicators present a complex and less beneficial picture than anticipated.
- High variability in negative affect may indicate suboptimal emotional adjustment.
- Further research is needed on the correlates of time-based emotional complexity indicators across contexts.
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