- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Emotion, Social Cognition, and Problem Solving in Adulthood
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Older Adults’ Perception of Social and Emotional Cues
- The Effects of Age on Memory for Socioemotional Material: An Affective Neuroscience Perspective
- Age Changes in Facial Morphology, Emotional Communication, and Age Stereotyping
- Do Everyday Affective Experiences Differ Throughout Adulthood?: A Review of Ambulatory-Assessment Evidence
- The Dynamics of Cognitive-Emotional Integration: Complexity and Hedonics in Emotional Development
- Putting Emotional Aging in Context: Contextual Influences on Age-Related Changes in Emotion Regulation and Recognition
- Positive Emotions and Health in Adulthood and Later Life
- Boundary Conditions for Emotional Well-Being in Aging: The Importance of Daily Stress
- Tasks, Capacities, and Tactics: A Skill-Based Conceptualization of Emotion Regulation Across the Lifespan
- Reconciling Cognitive Decline and Increased Well-Being With Age: The Role of Increased Emotion Regulation Efficiency
- Contextual Variation in Adults’ Emotion Regulation During Everyday Problem Solving
- Goals and Strategies for Solving Interpersonal Everyday Problems Across the Lifespan
- Goals, Strategies, and Well-Being Across Adulthood: Integrating Perspectives From the Coping and Everyday Problem-Solving Literatures
- My Heart Will Go On: Aging and Autonomic Nervous System Responding in Emotion
- Aging Influences on Judgment and Decision Processes: Interactions Between Ability and Experience
- Wisdom and Emotions
- Values Across Adulthood: A Neglected Developmental Construct Guiding Thought and Action Over Time
- Causal Attributions Across the Adult Lifespan
- Stereotype Threat in Older Adults: When and Why Does It Occur and Who Is Most Affected?
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
Theoretical models and empirical evidence support an association between positive emotions and enhanced physical health. In this essay, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the health significance of positive emotions in later life. We begin by exploring the contribution of lifespan theories of aging to emotion research. We then provide an overview of existing empirical evidence relevant to the role of positive emotions and adult health and well-being. We conclude with a discussion of how the integration of theoretical models and empirical findings can inform future research exploring the health effects of positive emotions across the lifespan.
Keywords: Aging, health, positive emotions, resilience
Catherine Riffin, Cornell University
Anthony D. Ong, Department of Human Development, Cornell University
Cindy S. Bergeman, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Handbooks Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can''t find the answer there, please contact us.
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Emotion, Social Cognition, and Problem Solving in Adulthood
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Older Adults’ Perception of Social and Emotional Cues
- The Effects of Age on Memory for Socioemotional Material: An Affective Neuroscience Perspective
- Age Changes in Facial Morphology, Emotional Communication, and Age Stereotyping
- Do Everyday Affective Experiences Differ Throughout Adulthood?: A Review of Ambulatory-Assessment Evidence
- The Dynamics of Cognitive-Emotional Integration: Complexity and Hedonics in Emotional Development
- Putting Emotional Aging in Context: Contextual Influences on Age-Related Changes in Emotion Regulation and Recognition
- Positive Emotions and Health in Adulthood and Later Life
- Boundary Conditions for Emotional Well-Being in Aging: The Importance of Daily Stress
- Tasks, Capacities, and Tactics: A Skill-Based Conceptualization of Emotion Regulation Across the Lifespan
- Reconciling Cognitive Decline and Increased Well-Being With Age: The Role of Increased Emotion Regulation Efficiency
- Contextual Variation in Adults’ Emotion Regulation During Everyday Problem Solving
- Goals and Strategies for Solving Interpersonal Everyday Problems Across the Lifespan
- Goals, Strategies, and Well-Being Across Adulthood: Integrating Perspectives From the Coping and Everyday Problem-Solving Literatures
- My Heart Will Go On: Aging and Autonomic Nervous System Responding in Emotion
- Aging Influences on Judgment and Decision Processes: Interactions Between Ability and Experience
- Wisdom and Emotions
- Values Across Adulthood: A Neglected Developmental Construct Guiding Thought and Action Over Time
- Causal Attributions Across the Adult Lifespan
- Stereotype Threat in Older Adults: When and Why Does It Occur and Who Is Most Affected?
- Index
