Greater sadness reactivity in late life.
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.
Seider
Benjamin H
BH
Institute of Personality & Social Research, University of California, 4143 Tolman Hall #5050, Berkeley, CA 94720-5050, USA.
Shiota
Michelle N
MN
Whalen
Patrick
P
Levenson
Robert W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001831:Body Temperature; D019260:Expressed Emotion / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult