Greater sadness reactivity in late life.

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
Benjamin H SeiderRobert W Levenson

Abstract

Although previous research suggests that overall emotional reactivity does not change with normal aging, it is possible that different emotions follow different developmental courses. We examined emotional reactivity to films selected to elicit sadness, disgust, and a neutral state in young, middle-aged and older adults (total N = 222). Physiology and expressive behavior were measured continuously and reports of subjective emotional experience were obtained following each film. Results indicated that older adults reported greater sadness in response to all films and greater physiological responses to the sadness film than did the younger age groups. There were no age differences found in self-reported disgust or in behavioral expressions of sadness or disgust in response to any film. The age differences that were found were maintained even after controlling for pre-film self-reported sadness and for personal experiences of loss. These findings support the notion that sadness reactivity is heightened with age.

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Citations

Aug 24, 2011·Emotion·Jocelyn A SzeRobert W Levenson
Apr 13, 2011·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Lisbeth Nielsen, Mara Mather
Apr 8, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Shichuan DuAleix M Martinez
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May 31, 2018·Experimental Aging Research·Mai Bjørnskov MikkelsenMia Skytte O'Toole
May 9, 2014·International Psychogeriatrics·Christine E GouldBarry A Edelstein
Jan 30, 2020·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Alice Y HuaRobert W Levenson
Jul 19, 2017·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Li GuDing-Guo Gao
Sep 5, 2020·Scientific Reports·Luz Fernández-AguilarAntonio Fernández-Caballero
Feb 22, 2012·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Virginia E SturmRobert W Levenson
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Aug 24, 2021·Cognition & Emotion·Camille Lallement, Patrick Lemaire
Aug 8, 2019·Gerontology·Izelle LabuschagnePeter G Rendell

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