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Cited by 2,797Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionResilience and Mental HealthOptimism, Hope, and Well-being

What good are positive emotions in crisis? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001.

Open access
Fredrickson, Barbara L., Tugade, Michele M., Waugh, Christian E., Larkin, Gregory R.·2003·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365PMC PMC2755263
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Abstract

Extrapolating from B. L. Fredrickson's (1998, 2001) broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, the authors hypothesized that positive emotions are active ingredients within trait resilience. U.S. college students (18 men and 28 women) were tested in early 2001 and again in the weeks following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Mediational analyses showed that positive emotions experienced in the wake of the attacks--gratitude, interest, love, and so forth--fully accounted for the relations between (a) precrisis resilience and later development of depressive symptoms and (b) precrisis resilience and postcrisis growth in psychological resources. Findings suggest that positive emotions in the aftermath of crises buffer resilient people against depression and fuel thriving, consistent with the broaden-and-build theory. Discussion touches on implications for coping.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365

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  • One function of positive affect may be to broaden attentional scope, which in turn broadens and builds psychological and social resources necessary for survival.

    “This model asserts that one function of positive affect may be to broaden attentional scope to help individuals be more open to novel stimuli and social supports, which in turn, broadens and builds psychological and social resources necessary for survival”

    From Skills to Enhance Positivity in adolescents at risk for suicide: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as [24]

  • Behavioral activation activities facilitate the ability to bounce back from negative experiences, reduce the psychological burden imposed by prolonged distress, and free-up cognitive resources to contend with everyday stressors and adjust to fluctuating situational demands.

    “They facilitate the ability to bounce back from negative experiences (Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2003), reduce the psychological burden imposed by prolonged distress, and free-up cognitive resources to contend with everyday stressors and adjust to fluctuating situational demands (Bonanno, Brewin, Kaniasty, & La Greca, 2010).”

    From Stress and coping in the time of COVID-19: Pathways to resilience and recovery (2020) · cites this paper as Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2003

  • Behavioral activation activities are diverting and spark positive emotions that researchers found to be critical to resilient outcomes and recovery after 9/11.

    “These sorts of coping-activities, called behavioral activation, are diverting and spark positive emotions that researchers found to be critical to resilient outcomes and recovery after 9/11.”

    From Stress and coping in the time of COVID-19: Pathways to resilience and recovery (2020) · cites this paper as Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2003

  • The capacity to experience positive emotions such as gratitude, interest, and love is one mechanism by which resilient individuals are buffered against risk for depression following trauma.

    “Related longitudinal research suggests that the capacity to experience positive emotions such as gratitude, interest, and love is one mechanism by which resilient individuals are buffered against risk for depression following trauma17.”

    From Psychobiological factors of resilience and depression in late life (2019) · cites this paper as [17]

  • Depression in people with type 2 diabetes is associated with poorer glycemic control, more symptoms and complications, and poorer adherence to exercise and diet recommendations.

    “Depression is common in people with type 2 diabetes[21] and is associated with poorer glycemic control, increased symptoms and complications, poorer adherence to exercise and diet recommendations[22], and elevated risk of mortality, over and above the elevations in risk associated with diabetes itself[23].”

    From An online positive affect skills intervention reduces depression in adults with type 2 diabetes (2014) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2003-02
Volume
84
Issue
2
Pages
365-376
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365
PMC
PMC2755263
OpenAlex
W4232057594
Cited by
2,797
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 103 · 2025: 139 · 2024: 167 · 2023: 181 · 2022: 217 · 2021: 255 · 2020: 172 · 2019: 141 · 2018: 143 · 2017: 154 · 2016: 133 · 2015: 124 · 2014: 138 · 2013: 115 · 2012: 118
FWCI
50.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • American Psychological Association
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 59615, R01MH059615)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Keywords
positive emotions, resilience, September 11 attacks, terrorism, emotional well-being, post-traumatic stress
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Stress, Psychological, Terrorism

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