Cited by 288COVID-19 and Mental HealthAging and Gerontology ResearchPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

The Ups and Downs of Daily Life During COVID-19: Age Differences in Affect, Stress, and Positive Events

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Klaiber, Patrick, Wen, Jin H, DeLongis, Anita, Sin, Nancy L·2021·The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

Abstract

Objectives: Past research has linked older age with greater emotional well-being and decreased reactivity to stressors, but it is unknown whether age-related advantages in emotional well-being are maintained in the wake of COVID-19. We examined age differences in exposure and affective reactivity to daily stressors and positive events in the first several weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: In March and April 2020, 776 adults from Canada and the United States aged 18–91 (mean age 45) years reported COVID-19 threats at baseline, then completed nightly surveys for 1 week about their daily stressors, positive events, and affect. Results: Younger age predicted more concerns about the threat of COVID-19 across multiple domains, in addition to lower positive affect, higher negative affect, and less frequent positive events. Younger adults had more non-COVID-19 daily stressors and higher perceived control over stressors, but lower perceived coping efficacy than older adults. There were no age differences in the frequency of COVID-19 daily stressors nor perceived stressor severity. Younger adults had greater reductions in negative affect on days when more positive events occurred and greater increases in negative affect on days when non-COVID-19 stressors occurred. Age moderation was attenuated for negative affective reactivity to COVID-19 stressors. Age did not moderate positive affective reactivity to daily events. Discussion: In the early weeks of the pandemic, older adults showed better emotional well-being and less reactivity to stressors but did not differ from younger adults in their exposure to COVID-19 stressors. Additionally, younger adults benefited more from positive events.

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Authors
Klaiber, P., Wen, J. H., DeLongis, A., & Sin, N. L.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Klaiber, Patrick
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Published
2020-07-17
Volume
76
Issue
2
Pages
e30-e37
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
OpenAlex
W3042638980
Cited by
288
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 13
FWCI
22.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (430-2019-00387, 435-2016-1350)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, age differences, emotional well-being, daily hassles, positive events, emotional reactivity, negative affect, positive affect, perceived control, coping self-efficacy, older adults, young adults
MeSH terms
COVID-19, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Canada, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Stress, Psychological, United States, Self Efficacy, Young Adult

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