Age is positively associated with fading affect bias: A cross-sectional comparison.

Abstract

Emotions elicited by personal event memories change over time such that negative affect fades more quickly than positive affect. This asymmetric fade is called the fading affect bias (FAB) and has been posited as a mechanism that helps promote a positive outlook on life. A similar bias toward positive information (i.e., the positivity effect) driven by greater emphasis on emotion regulation has been demonstrated in older adults. The current research uses two age-diverse community samples to examine the relationship between age and the strength of FAB. Participants recalled positive and negative event memories and rated the intensity of affect at the time of the event (i.e., retrospectively) and at the time of recollection. Participants of all ages exhibited a significant FAB, and crucially, the strength of the effect was positively associated with age. Age-based differences in psychological well-being and recalled event intensity had no influence on the relationship between age and FAB. The relationship was, however, related to greater personal importance placed on positive (but not negative) events. The findings are consistent with the socioemotional selectivity theory and suggest another mechanism through which emotion regulation is associated with aging to maintain a positive outlook on life. Public Significance StatementPrevious work has demonstrated that negative feelings from unpleasant life events lose their intensity both more quickly and more thoroughly than positive feelings from pleasant life events. This asymmetric fading of positive and negative emotions has been shown to be related to greater emotional well-being. The current research shows that the strength of this difference is positively associated with age and suggests an emotion regulation process that works especially well to maintain a positive outlook as we age.