Examining daily affect variability by individual differences among a diverse community sample

Variability in daily emotional experiences may be important for both mental and physical health and may be influenced by individual differences such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Research on individual differences in affect variability is limited, and what is available does not encompass diverse, multilayered identities. Therefore, the present study aims to provide more inclusive evidence of the role of individual differences in affect variability. We assessed momentary positive and negative affect in a diverse community sample of adults. A sample of 300 adults (age 18-80; 50% women; 19% Hispanic, 15% Black) completed 2 days of ecological momentary assessment sampling randomly within 45-min blocks during waking hours. Using individual standard deviation for positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) variability, independent samples t tests were conducted to assess individual differences in PA and NA variability. General linear models were used to assess interaction effects between individual differences in PA and NA variability. Correlation analyses demonstrate that older age was correlated with lower PA and NA variability. Independent sample t tests demonstrate that being female was associated with greater PA variability, and identifying as White was associated with lower PA and NA variability. Two-way and three-way interactions between age, gender, and race/ethnicity showed no significant association with PA or NA variability. Although the observed effects were not uniform across all demographics, together they highlight the relevance of individual differences in affect dynamics and underscore the value of incorporating them into research on affect variability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).