Decoding Age-Related Changes in Emotional Reactivity: The Importance of Distinguishing Positive and Negative Sensations

Abstract

This study investigated age-related variations in emotional reactivity, focusing on the differentiation between positive and negative emotional sensations. Grounded in Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST), we hypothesized that older vs. younger adults would exhibit heightened valence and intensity in their emotional sensations, alongside increased co-occurrence of positive and negative sensations. We presented 100 negative, 100 neutral, and 100 positive images to 67 young adults and 72 older adults. Utilizing unipolar scales enabled a nuanced analysis of emotional reactivity. Our findings revealed that older vs. younger adults overall report: 1) more positive and negative sensations, with a predominance for positive sensations, particularly when faced with positive images; 2) more intense sensations, regardless of the valence of the images; 3) more complex emotional sensations, particularly when faced with negative images. Thus, our findings validated the key principles of SST and can be seen as a manifestation of an adaptive strategy developed in older adults to promote richer, more positive emotional experiences. However, the study’s broader implications are moderated by certain limitations. The experimental sample shows a gender imbalance, with a predominance of females and a lack of racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in older adults. In addition, the low- to medium-intensity emotional stimuli reflect only a narrow spectrum of everyday experiences. These constraints underscore the need for future research to encompass greater demographic inclusion and a wider range of emotional stimuli to ensure the applicability of our findings to more complex populations and emotional landscapes.