title: Shifting positivity ratios: emotions and psychological health in later life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A positivity ratio of approximately three positive emotions to one negative emotion has been found to distinguish between flourishing and languishing (optimal vs. poor psychological health). The current study assessed 2-year shifts (2008, 2010) in positivity ratios among 295 older adults and considered whether such shifts were associated with concurrent changes in psychological health (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and perceived control).
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on participants' reported positive and negative emotions, we identified two positivity ratio groups who were characterized by ratios that did not change, either remaining persistently optimal (above 2.9) or persistently suboptimal, and two groups that depicted shifts in ratios that either became optimal or became suboptimal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants (67%) remained in their initial group, but shifts between categories did occur in both directions. Ratio groups and time (2008 vs. 2010) were predictor variables in 4 × 2 generalized estimating equations that were computed for each psychological health measure. The hypothesized positivity ratio group × time interaction emerged for each psychological health measure. Ratio shifts that 'became optimal' were associated with a significant concurrent decrease in stress and an increase in perceived control; ratio shifts that 'became suboptimal' were associated with a significant increase in depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although older adults who began with a suboptimal positivity ratio were unlikely to experience a shift to an optimal ratio, findings are more encouraging for those who began with an optimal positivity ratio. The majority of these older adults retained optimal positivity ratios over time and appeared to flourish.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of North Dakota , Grand Forks , ND , USA.
authors.forename: Joelle C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruthig
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trisko
authors.forename: Judith G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chipperfield
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: aging; flourishing; languishing; positivity ratios; psychological health