Is Positive Affect Related to Meaning in Life Differently in Younger and Older Adults? A Time Sampling Study

Steven Tsun-Wai Chu, Helene H Fung, Li Chu and Shevaun Neupert

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2020, vol. 75, issue 10, 2086-2094

Abstract: ObjectivesPrior studies have found that as people age, they value low-arousal positive affect (LAP) to a greater extent and high-arousal positive affect (HAP) to a lower extent. We aimed to investigate whether actually achieving those ideal affects was related to better well-being outcomes, measured in terms of meaning in life.MethodsUsing a time sampling design across 14 days (N = 162), we investigated whether the experience of LAP and HAP was related to the experience of meaning in life and how these associations differed across younger and older adults in Hong Kong.ResultsBoth LAP and HAP contributed to the experience of meaning in life for both younger and older adults. The global effect of LAP on meaning in life was stronger for older than younger adults, whereas the momentary effect of HAP on meaning in life was stronger for younger adults than older adults.DiscussionFindings suggest that achieving ideal affect is related to better eudaimonic well-being outcomes. People of different age groups know how they want to feel. Actually achieving the feelings endorsed by one’s age group is associated with higher meaningfulness of life.

Keywords: Affect valuation theory; Age differences; Aging; Ecological momentary assessment; Intensive longitudinal design; Presence of meaning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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