The ratio between positive and negative affect and flourishing mental health across adulthood

Abstract

Using data from a 30-day diary study with 239 adults (81 young, 81 middle-aged, and 77 older adults) this study examined whether a specific ratio between positive and negative affect distinguished individuals with different mental health status and especially flourishing from nonflourishing individuals. In addition, the study addressed whether there were age differences in the positivity ratio when daily affect data were used, and whether the proposed critical positivity ratio of 2.9 discriminated equally well between individuals with different mental health status across the adult lifespan. Findings showed that the ratio of positive to negative affect differed across adulthood such that age was associated with an increasing preponderance of positive to negative affect. The positivity ratio was also associated with mental health status in the hypothesized direction; higher positivity ratios were associated with better mental health. Finally, although the data supported the notion of a positivity ratio of 2.9 as a "critical value" in young adulthood, this value did not equally well discriminate the mental health status of middle-aged and older adults. Keywordsadulthood; positive and negative affect; positivity ratio; mental health Researchers have long suggested that the balance of positive to negative affect is critically relevant to well-being and adjustment (Bradburn, 1969;Kahneman, 1999). Recently, Larsen and Prizmic (2008) argued that the balance of positive to negative affect (hereafter referred to as the positivity ratio) is a key factor in subjective well-being and in defining whether a person flourishes. Larsen and Prizmic discussed work by several authors (e.g., Fredrickson & Losada, 2005;Gottman, 1994;Schwartz, 1997;Schwartz et al., 2002) which suggests that to maintain an optimal level of emotional well-being and positive mental health, individuals need to experience approximately three times more positive than negative affect. Given this background, the present study addressed three questions. First, is there evidence that a specific positivity ratio distinguishes individuals with different mental health status and especially flourishing from non-flourishing individuals? Second, are there age differences in the positivity ratio when daily affect data are used? Third, does the proposed critical positivity ratio of 2.9 discriminate individuals with different mental health status equally well across the adult lifespan? The Critical Ratio of Positive to Negative AffectThe argument that the ratio of positive to negative affect distinguishes well-functioning individuals from others has been well articulated by Fredrickson and Losada (2005). Drawing on a variety of research, Fredrickson and Losada demonstrated that a positivity ratio of about 3:1 could distinguish between high-and low-performing work teams. Testing the generalizability of their model, these authors also examined the positivity ratios and mental health status of college students, using Keyes' (2002, 20005) definition of flourishin...

Examining the predictive role of self-compassion on flourishing in Turkish university students

“…This provide them to have more accurate self-perceptions and selfappraisals (i.e., without self-enhancement or selfdeprecation) than those lacking (Leary et al, 2007). Similarly since flourishing is related to (and also facilitate) feelings of wellness, resilience (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005;Larsen & Prizmic, 2008), and a balance between positive and negative affect (Diehl et al, 2011), that people experience when they are self-compassionate flourishing and self-compassion may seem alike in nature and the positive associations between self-kindness, mindfulness, and flourishing are not surprising.…”

“…In these studies it was found that flourishing associated positively with emotional vitality (Michalec et al, 2009), positive emotions, life satisfaction, resiliency, autonomy, productivity, competency, personal adjustment and development (Diehl et al, 2011;Diener et al, 2010;Keyes, 2002;Telef, 2011), self-acceptance (Diener et al, 2010), mindfulness, and positive emotional reactivity (Catalino & Fredrickson, 2011) and negatively to depression (Keyes, 2002), mental illness (Michalec et al, 2009), and negative affect (Diehl et al, 2011;Keyes, 2002). Also studies suggest that individuals with a sense of flourishing are more likely to contribute to their communities (Huppert, 2009;Michalec et al, 2009), are more productive at work, enjoy better social relationships, experience less limitations on daily activities (Huppert, 2009;Keyes, 2005), have higher levels of environmental control, positive relations with others (Telef, 2011), and relatedness, lower levels of loneliness (Diener et al, 2010;Gokcen, Hefferon, & Attree, 2012).…”

“…Having a balance of positive to negative affect is also a key factor in defining whether a person flourishes (Diehl, Hay, & Berg, 2011) and thus flourishing is different from the absence of mental illness (Keyes, 2005(Keyes, , 2007Michalec, Keyes, & Nalkur, 2009). Seligman (2011) suggested five elements of flourishing which are summarized in the acronym PERMA; positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.…”

Too Much of a Good Thing: Curvilinear Effect of the Positivity Ratio on Emotional Dysfunction and Perceived Resources in Adolescent Females

“…The frequency that a person experiences positive versus negative emotions is termed the positivity ratio, and is a widely-used indicator of well-being in positivity research [8,9]. Among adults, this ratio has distinguished individuals who lead a flourishing life -full of meaning, possibility, and growth -from those who desire more meaning and purpose [7].…”

“…There is reason to believe that adolescents who experience a greater ratio of positive to negative emotions benefit from a broadened range of perceptions, ideas, and actions [2] -the broaden effect -and that over time, repeated experiences of positivity build a variety of enduring personal and environmental resources such as improved adaptation to adversity and greater resilience, [3] more thoughtful decision making, and greater social connection [4] -the build effect [5,6]. Conversely, adolescents experiencing too few and/or dysregulated positive emotions would report poorer emotional functioning, including increased stress and depressive symptoms [7].The frequency that a person experiences positive versus negative emotions is termed the positivity ratio, and is a widely-used indicator of well-being in positivity research [8,9]. Among adults, this ratio has distinguished individuals who lead a flourishing life -full of meaning, possibility, and growth -from those who desire more meaning and purpose [7].…”