Work

Less Irritating After All These Years: Negative Relations and Links With Well-being Across Adulthood

Year: 2017

Type: conference-abstract

Abstract: Negative relationships are associated with poor health, chronic illness, and mortality. Yet, we know little about the dynamics of negative aspects of relationships within individuals over time, how those experiences vary by age and the implications of those relationships for well-being. A total of 615 participants (ages 18 to 97; M= 57; 64% women) from the Social Relations and Health Study completed monthly web surveys for up to 12 months. Each month they reported negative relationship quality with their closest network members and multiple dimensions of well-being (positive affect, negative affect, self-rated health and sleep). Multilevel models revealed that older individuals reported less negativity in their relationships than younger people. Further, older individuals’ well-being was less detrimentally affected by negativity than younger adults’ well-being. Consistent with gerontological theories of emotion regulation, older individuals appear better able to regulate the negative aspects of their relationships.

Source: Innovation in Aging

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.3554

Authors: K. Birditt, C. Wexler Sherman, T.C. Antonucci

Institutions: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research

Language: English

Topic: Aging and Gerontology Research

Subfield: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,977