Does positive affect change in old age? Results from a 22-year longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Subjective well-being is a key aspect of aging.
• Understanding longitudinal changes in positive affect (PA) is crucial for older adults.
• The well-being paradox suggests stable or increasing happiness in later life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the longitudinal trajectory of positive affect (PA) in an aging population.
• To identify patterns of change in PA over a 22-year period.
• To discuss findings in the context of the well-being paradox.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the PAQUID cohort (n = 3,777, ages 62-101 at Wave 1).
• Assessed PA using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) PA subscale over 10 waves (22 years).
• Employed latent growth curve modeling to analyze PA change patterns.

Main Results:

• A quadratic latent growth curve model best described the PA trajectory.
• Results indicated an initial linear increase in PA followed by a decline.
• This pattern suggests a deviation from a continuously increasing or stable well-being in later life.

Conclusions:

• The observed PA pattern challenges the traditional well-being paradox.
• Positive affect does not necessarily increase or remain stable throughout older age.
• Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing this non-linear trajectory.