Research has shown that older adults display more positive emotions and are quicker to regulate out of negative emotional states than younger adults. Given the declines in cognitive functioning and physical health that tend to come with age, we might expect that age would be associated with worse moods, not better ones.
So what explains older adults' positive mood regulation?
Journal Reference:
- D. M. Isaacowitz. Mood Regulation in Real Time: Age Differences in the Role of Looking. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2012; 21 (4): 237 DOI: 10.1177/0963721412448651