Emotion Dynamics Across the Adult Lifespan

Psychological well-being tends to increase throughout adulthood, but age-related differences in emotion dynamics have been less explored. By examining patterns of emotion dynamics across age, we can gain deeper insight into potential areas where age-related emotional advantages do and do not exist. In the present study, an adult lifespan sample (N = 290, aged 25-85) completed an experience sampling protocol in which they reported their current emotional experiences six times a day for ten days. We examined age as a predictor of composites of mean-level, intensity, frequency, instability, and inertia of positive emotions (PA: excited, enthusiastic, happy, grateful, peaceful, relaxed) and negative emotions (NA: stressed, nervous, angry, disgusted, sad, sluggish, bored), as well as discrete emotions. Age predicted lower mean-level, intensity, and frequency of NA and this pattern generally replicated across discrete negative emotions. Age was not associated with mean-level or intensity of PA, but it predicted higher PA frequency. Regarding discrete positive emotions, age predicted higher mean-level happiness, higher mean-level and intensity of peacefulness and relaxation, and lower intensity of excitement. Age predicted less inertia of PA, peacefulness, and relaxation (but not NA) and less instability of both NA and PA. This work highlights the value of considering multiple indices of emotion dynamics in age-diverse samples. While older adults demonstrated lower levels of NA, their NA carried over from one time point to the next similarly to young adults. On the other hand, PA was more frequently experienced by older adults but more inert for young adults.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-025-00319-8.