Up-regulating positive emotions in everyday life: Strategies, individual differences, and associations with positive emotion and well-being

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 504-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly M. Livingstone ◽  
Sanjay Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Strategies

Curiosity and Interest

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Silvia ◽  
Todd B. Kashdan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being

Recent years have seen renewed attention to curiosity and interest―recognizing, seeking out, and preferring things that are outside of one’s normal experience. In this chapter, we explore curiosity, where it fits in the larger scheme of positive emotions, how individual differences are assessed, the advantages of being curious in social relationships, links between curiosity and elements of well-being, and how it has been used in interventions to improve people’s quality of life. Our review emphasizes findings that show how curiosity operates in the laboratory and everyday life, and how, under certain conditions, curiosity can be a profound source of strength, or a liability. People who are regularly curious and willing to embrace the novelty, uncertainty, and challenges that are inevitable in everyday life have an advantage in creating a fulfilling existence compared with their less curious peers. Our review is designed to bring further attention to this underappreciated human universal.

scholarly journals Savoring the present: The reciprocal influence between positive emotions and positive emotion regulation in everyday life

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251561
Author(s):  
Desirée Colombo ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Pavani ◽  
Javier Fernandez-Alvarez ◽  
Azucena Garcia-Palacios ◽  
Cristina Botella
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adaptive Mechanism ◽  
Reciprocal Influence ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Momentary Assessment

A growing body of research has investigated the regulation of negative emotions in ecological settings, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying positive emotion regulation in everyday life. Although some evidence suggests that adopting positive strategies is beneficial for emotional well-being, the literature is inconsistent about the effects of positive emotions on subsequent regulatory processes. In the present study, we adopted a two-week ecological momentary assessment to explore the association between positive emotions and positive emotion regulation in daily life. According to our results, the less individuals felt positive emotions at one point, the more they tended to enhance their use of positive strategies from this time to the next, which in turn resulted in subsequent higher levels of positive emotions. This prototype of positive regulation can be seen as a highly adaptive mechanism that makes it possible to compensate for a lack of positive emotions by enhancing the deployment of positive strategies. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals The Experience of Empathy in Everyday Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 095679762199520
Author(s):  
Gregory John Depow ◽  
Zoë Francis ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Trait Empathy

We used experience sampling to examine perceptions of empathy in the everyday lives of a group of 246 U.S. adults who were quota sampled to represent the population on key demographics. Participants reported an average of about nine opportunities to empathize per day; these experiences were positively associated with prosocial behavior, a relationship not found with trait measures. Although much of the literature focuses on the distress of strangers, in everyday life, people mostly empathize with very close others, and they empathize with positive emotions 3 times as frequently as with negative emotions. Although trait empathy was negatively associated only with well-being, empathy in daily life was generally associated with increased well-being. Theoretically distinct components of empathy—emotion sharing, perspective taking, and compassion—typically co-occur in everyday empathy experiences. Finally, empathy in everyday life was higher for women and the religious but not significantly lower for conservatives and the wealthy.

scholarly journals A Test of Resilience Theory in the Context of a Global Crisis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C Willroth ◽  
Angela Moriah Smith ◽  
Dan Mroczek ◽  
Eileen Kranz Graham ◽  
amanda shallcross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Total N ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Resilient Response

Major stressors often challenge emotional well-being—increasing negative emotions and decreasing positive emotions. But how long do these emotional hits last? Prior theory and research contain conflicting views. Some research suggests that most individuals’ emotional well-being will return to, or even surpass, baseline levels relatively quickly. Others have challenged this view, arguing that this type of resilient response is uncommon. The present research provides a strong test of resilience theory by examining emotional trajectories over the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In two pre-registered longitudinal studies conducted in diverse U.S. samples (total N =1,147), we examined overall emotional trajectories and predictors of individual differences in emotional trajectories across 13 waves of data from February through September 2020. The pandemic had immediate detrimental effects on emotional well-being. Negative emotions decreased across six months, with the greatest improvements occurring almost immediately. Yet, positive emotions remained depleted relative to baseline levels, illustrating the limits of resilience. Individuals also differed substantially around these normative emotional trajectories and these individual differences were predicted by socio-demographic characteristics and stress exposure. We discuss three theoretical implications of the present investigation: (1) The extent to which resilience is normative depends on the outcome and the context. (2) Individual differences in resilience are large and complex, suggesting that broad claims that resilience is “ubiquitous” or “rare” may not be useful. (3) Resilience is multiply-determined and embedded within societal contexts that influence who experiences stress as well as who has access to resources to respond to stress.

Features of University Environments That Support Well-Being as Perceived by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Undergraduate Music and Art Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-192
Author(s):  
Nicholas E. Roseth
Keyword(s):  
College Student ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Music Majors ◽  
Education Majors ◽  
Art Students ◽  
Composite Variables

The purpose of this study was to explore features of university environments that support well-being as perceived by undergraduate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) music and art students. Data were drawn from the 2013–2015 administrations of the College Student Report (CSR) by the National Survey of Student Engagement. Responses of students who identified as music majors, music or art education majors, or as LGBQ ( n = 30,014) were extracted. CSR items regarding the students’ collegiate experiences corresponding with dimensions of Seligman’s well-being theory (i.e., positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement) were used to create composite variables for analysis. The data indicated similar ratings between heterosexual and LGBQ music/art students for positive emotion, engagement, and relationships. In contrast, non–music/art LGBQ students rated items pertaining to positive emotions and relationships lower than heterosexual music/art students and lower than both heterosexual students and LGBQ music/art students in engagement. Both LGBQ groups rated meaning items significantly higher than heterosexual music/art students. The data also indicated that heterosexual music/art students rated achievement items significantly higher than both LGBQ groups. These findings suggest that heterosexual and LGBQ music/art students may perceive better support for their well-being by their institutions’ environments than their non–music/art LGBQ peers.

Experiences of Playing Volt Hockey With Focus on Well-Being According to Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement: An Interview Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Anna Carin Aho ◽  
Elisabeth Renmarker ◽  
Malin Axelsson ◽  
Jenny Jakobsson
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Main Category ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Five Elements

Volt hockey is a team sport developed for persons with physical disabilities, but its influence on well-being is unknown. Elements of well-being have been described as positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement constituting a theoretical framework referred to as PERMA. The purpose of this study was to describe how well-being according to PERMA is reflected in the experiences of playing volt hockey. Data were collected through focus group and individual interviews including 21 players. A deductive analysis was conducted using the elements in PERMA as preexisting main categories with an additional main category, named resources needed. Findings showed that all five elements constituting well-being according to PERMA were reflected in the experiences of playing volt hockey. In addition, players emphasized the importance of having the resources needed to play volt hockey. In conclusion, having the opportunity to enjoy playing volt hockey enabled the players to flourish and experience feelings of subjective well-being.

Comment: Homing in on a Balanced Psychology

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-63
Author(s):  
Jeff T. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
To Come ◽  
Positive And Negative Emotions

Hernandez et al.’s (2018) review provides clear evidence that positive affect can contribute to well-being and fits nicely within the positive psychology framework. The emergence of positive psychology has been valuable for understanding well-being, but I suggest that a balanced psychology can prove even more valuable in the years to come. A balanced psychology requires giving as much attention to negative emotion as to positive emotion. It also requires considering whether there are circumstances in which positive emotions can be detrimental and negative emotions can be beneficial. Along those lines, evidence reviewed here indicates that healthy coping with severe stressors involves experiencing a combination of positive and negative emotions.

scholarly journals Living Alone During COVID-19: Social Contact and Emotional Well-Being among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 951-951
Author(s):  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Karen Fingerman ◽  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Katherine Britt ◽  
Gianna Colera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Living Situation ◽  
Telephone Contact ◽  
The Social ◽  
To Receive

Abstract The COVID-19 outbreak and the associated physical distancing measures dramatically altered the social world for most older adults, but people who live alone may have been disproportionately affected. The current study examined how living alone was related to social contact and emotional well-being among older adults during the pandemic. Adults (N = 226) aged 69+ completed a brief survey assessing their living situation, social contact with different social partners (in person, by phone, electronically), and emotions during the morning, afternoon and evening the prior day. Older adults who live alone were less likely to see others in person or to receive or provide help, and reported less positive emotion the prior day than those who lived with others. Living alone was associated with more positive emotions concurrent with in-person contact. In contrast, phone contact was related to higher levels of negate affect among those living alone, but not among those who live with others. Findings suggest older adults who live alone may be more reactive to social contact during the COVID 19 outbreak than older adults who reside with others. In-person contact appears to confer distinct benefits not available via telephone contact, suggesting that possible interventions during the pandemic may work best with safe forms of in-person contact.

scholarly journals The Experience of Empathy in Everyday Life

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory John Depow ◽  
Zoë Lynn Francis ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Trait Empathy

We used experience-sampling to examine perceptions of empathy in the everyday lives of a group of 246 U.S. adults, quota-sampled to represent the population on key demographics. Participants reported an average of about 9 opportunities to empathize per day, with these experiences being positively associated with prosocial behaviour; a relationship not found with trait measures. While much of the literature focuses on the distress of strangers, in everyday life, people mostly empathize with very close others; and they empathize with positive emotions three times as frequently as with negative emotions. Though trait empathy was only negatively associated with well-being, empathy in daily life was generally associated with increased well-being. Theoretically distinct components of empathy—emotion sharing, perspective taking, and compassion—typically co-occur in everyday empathy experiences. Finally, empathy in everyday life was higher for women and the religious, but not significantly lower for conservatives or the wealthy.

Impact of Gratitude on Resource Development and Emotional Well-Being

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Che Lin
Keyword(s):  
Coping Style ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Avoidant Coping ◽  
Adaptive Coping ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Broaden And Build Theory

Using the broaden-and-build theory, I examined whether or not gratitude can build social, cognitive, physical, and psychological resources, and whether or not gratitude induces other positive emotions that trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. I recruited participants (N = 375 undergraduates) to complete measures of the variables of interest. The results indicated that higher levels of gratitude significantly predicted increases in social support, adaptive coping abilities, and beneficial psychological outcomes (e.g., life satisfaction), as well as decreases in avoidant coping style and detrimental physical outcomes (e.g., negative emotions). Further, I found that gratitude could induce other positive emotions which partially mediated the effects of gratitude on emotional well-being. These findings provide empirical support for the idea that gratitude is, in essence, a positive emotion beneficial for positive functioning, as well as broadening and building other positive emotions, which, in turn, result in an increase in emotional well-being.

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