Longitudinal change in positive affect in community-dwelling older persons.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether positive affect, defined as emotional contentment and happiness, remains stable in late life and to identify predictors of longitudinal change in positive affect.


METHODS
Longitudinal observational study.


METHODS
Community.


METHODS
Six hundred sixty-three individuals aged 70 and older without disability at baseline and free of chronically depressed mood.


METHODS
Positive affect, social network, social activity, chronic health conditions, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), cognitive functioning, and negative affect measured over 54 months, at 18-month intervals, up to four times.


RESULTS
Positive affect remained relatively stable over 4.5 years of follow-up. Higher average levels of social activity and lower levels of negative affect were associated with higher positive affect. An increase of 1 point in negative affect (on a 7-point scale) was associated with a 0.23-point concurrent decrease in positive affect (on a 5-point scale). Needing help in an additional IADL was associated with a decrease in positive affect of 0.04 points. A greater number of chronic conditions at enrollment was associated with lower positive affect.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive affect is directly correlated with social involvement and inversely correlated with negative affect, IADL functioning, and comorbidity. Positive affect was mostly related to factors that do not change over time, although it showed some sensitivity to short- and long-term changes in physical health and functioning.
Kurland
Brenda F
BF
Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. bkurland@fhcrc.org
Gill
Thomas M
TM
Patrick
Donald L
DL
Larson
Eric B
EB
Phelan
Elizabeth A
EA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003237:Connecticut; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment