Torn Between Valences: Mixed Emotions Predict Poorer Psychological Well-Being and Job Burnout

Abstract

Conflicting perspectives on whether mixed emotions are adaptive states which promote integrative processes or uncomfortable states which are agonizing make divergent predictions on whether mixed emotions in daily life are conducive towards psychological well-being. We examined this across three studies. Study 1 ( N = 335, 135 males; M age = 41.31) examined associations between state mixed emotions and psychological well-being. Study 2 ( N = 389; 160 males; M age = 40.86) examined associations between workplace-specific mixed emotions and workplace ill-being assessed based on burnout. Both direct measures and indirect measures were examined in Study 1 and 2, allowing some comparison of methodological issues related to their predictive validity. Study 3 ( N = 3444; 1587 males; M age = 55.34) examined bidirectional relationships between an index of emotional ambivalence and psychological well-being about ten years later, controlling for baselines. Demographic covariates, positive emotions, and negative emotions were controlled for in all studies. Analyses were performed using latent variable structural equation modelling. After adjusting for all covariates, the direct measures of mixed emotions predicted poorer psychological well-being (Study 1) and greater burnout (Study 2). However, indirect measures were found to suffer from relatively greater multicollinearity and poorer predictive validity upon controlling for positive and negative emotions. In Study 3, emotional ambivalence predicted poorer long-term psychological well-being, while psychological well-being also predicted lower emotional ambivalence, supporting bidrectionality. The findings provide preliminary evidence that naturalistically experienced mixed emotions may be conflicting and unpleasant, with potentially negative implications for psychological well-being over and above positive and negative emotions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-021-00493-z.

Specificity in the Study of Mixed Emotions: A Theoretical Framework

“…Williams & Aaker, 2002). This is also consistent with the perspective that emotional ambivalence is an uncomfortable state requiring regulation (van Harreveld et al, 2009) and may explain findings that mixed emotions could damage well-being (Oh, 2022). Indeed, some evidence suggests that mixed emotions that are conflicting are more detrimental for psychosocial outcomes (Braniecka et al, 2014).…”

“…Pride (continued) (van Harreveld et al, 2009) and may explain findings that mixed emotions could damage well-being (Oh, 2022). Indeed, some evidence suggests that mixed emotions that are conflicting are more detrimental for psychosocial outcomes (Braniecka et al, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, contrary to earlier notions that nostalgia is a mixed emotion with predominantly positive psychosocial effects (e.g., Kersten et al, 2016), Newman et al (2020) found that only voluntarily-recalled nostalgia was associated with positive psychosocial outcomes, while naturalistically experienced nostalgia was associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. More recently, mixed emotions have also been linked negatively to well-being outcomes (Oh, 2022; Sun et al, 2021).…”

“…Situational moderators determining whether mixed emotions are aversive may also be relevant (Rothman & Melwani, 2017; Rothman et al, 2017; Xiao et al, 2018). For example, mixed emotions may be beneficial primarily in adversity (Larsen et al, 2003; Oh & Tong, 2021; Ong et al, 2017) but not in non-crisis contexts where they may be conflicting and avoidance-oriented (e.g., Oh, 2022). Finally, findings from Grossmann et al (2016) further suggest the importance of disentangling trait versus state mixed emotions.…”

“…However, while conflict effects and integrative effects do not always contradict each other, excessive conflict could interfere with integrative effects for certain outcomes such as well-being (Oh, 2022). In such cases, whether conflict effects or integrative effects take precedence may depend on how conflicting the particular mixed emotion is (Braniecka et al, 2014).…”