title: Savoring, resilience, and psychological well-being in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Guided by Fredrickson's broaden and build theory of positive emotions and Zautra's dynamic model of affect, the current study examines the relation between savoring positive experiences (i.e., the ability to notice and regulate positive feelings) and psychological well-being for older adults with higher and lower levels of resilience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 164 (74% female) older adults living in a large metropolitan area participated in this study. Participants were recruited from a continuing care retirement community and community centers in the surrounding area. Participants completed a survey measuring savoring, resilience, happiness, depression, and satisfaction with life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In older adults, greater ability to savor positive experiences and higher resilience both predicted greater happiness, lower depression, and greater satisfaction with life (i.e., greater psychological well-being). Savoring is associated with positive outcomes for people with higher and lower levels of resilience. However, the relationship between savoring and psychological well-being is stronger for people with lower resilience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have implications for the development of positive psychological interventions to enhance resilience and well-being in older adults. From a practical standpoint, adaptable interventions to enhance savoring and boost positive emotions in older adults may improve well-being and resilience to life's stressors.
authors.affiliation: a Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging , Evanston , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hollinger-Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D055500:Resilience, Psychological
keywords: depression; emotion regulation; happiness; positive psychology; successful aging