Age-Related Differences and Change in Positive and Negative Affect Over 23 Years

Positive and negative affect, measured by the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale, were studied in a longitudinal sample spanning from 1971 to 1994. The sample ( N = 2,804) represented 4 generations of families. Linear trend analyses compared generations over time for positive and negative affect and also...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2001-01, Vol.80 (1), p.136-151
Main Authors: Charles, Susan Turk, Reynolds, Chandra A, Gatz, Margaret
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult. Elderly
Affect
Affectivity. Emotion
Age
Age Differences
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Ageing
Biological and medical sciences
California
Changes
Developmental psychology
Emotional Stability
Emotionality (Personality)
Extraversion
Extraversion (Psychology)
Families & family life
Family
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Generations
Human
Human behaviour
Humans
Intergenerational Relations
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental health
Middle Aged
Neurotic Disorders - psychology
Neuroticism
Personality
Personality Change
Personality Traits
Personality. Affectivity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Quality of Life - psychology
Sex Factors
Social psychology
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Description
Summary:Positive and negative affect, measured by the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale, were studied in a longitudinal sample spanning from 1971 to 1994. The sample ( N = 2,804) represented 4 generations of families. Linear trend analyses compared generations over time for positive and negative affect and also examined the possible influences of neuroticism and extraversion on initial levels of affect and patterns of change in affect. Negative affect decreased with age for all generations, although the rate was attenuated among the oldest adults. Higher neuroticism scores also attenuated the decrease in negative affect across time. For positive affect, the younger and middle-aged adults showed marked stability, but the older group evidenced a small decrease over time. Higher levels of extraversion were related to more stability in positive affect.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.80.1.136