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Greater negative affect and mixed emotions during spontaneous reactions to sad films in older than younger adults

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  • Molly A. Mather

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Rebecca E. Ready

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

Older adults may be better able to regulate emotion responses to negative experiences than younger persons when provided instructions, but age group differences in spontaneous emotion responses are poorly understood. The current study determined age group differences in spontaneous reactivity and recovery in negative and positive affects, as well as the co-occurrence of negative and positive affects, following a laboratory mood induction. Younger (n = 71) and older adults (n = 44) rated negative and positive affects before and several times after a negative mood induction involving sad film clips. ANCOVA and multilevel longitudinal modeling in HLM were utilized to determine age group differences in spontaneous reactivity to and recovery from the mood induction, as well as age group differences in co-occurrence of negative and positive affects. Relative to younger adults, older adults reported greater negative affect reactivity to and recovery from the mood induction. Older adults also reported greater co-occurrence of negative and positive affects in response to the mood induction, as compared to younger adults. Thus, older adults reacted more strongly to sad film clips than younger persons, exhibited efficient recovery, and reported greater co-occurrence of negative and positive affects. A fruitful line of future research might determine whether affect co-occurrence facilitates effective emotion regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Molly A. Mather & Rebecca E. Ready, 2021. "Greater negative affect and mixed emotions during spontaneous reactions to sad films in older than younger adults," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 29-43, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:18:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-020-00565-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-020-00565-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Corinna E. Löckenhoff & Paul T. Costa & Richard D. Lane, 2008. "Age Differences in Descriptions of Emotional Experiences in Oneself and Others," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 63(2), pages 92-99.
    2. Louise H. Phillips & Julie D. Henry & Judith A. Hosie & Alan B. Milne, 2008. "Effective Regulation of the Experience and Expression of Negative Affect in Old Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 63(3), pages 138-145.
    3. Mary Jo Larcom & Derek M. Isaacowitz, 2009. "Rapid Emotion Regulation After Mood Induction: Age and Individual Differences," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(6), pages 733-741.
    4. Anthony D. Ong & Cindy S. Bergeman, 2004. "The Complexity of Emotions in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(3), pages 117-122.
    5. Janelle N. Beadle & Alexander H. Sheehan & Brian Dahlben & Angela H. Gutchess, 2015. "Aging, Empathy, and Prosociality," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(2), pages 213-222.
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