Just Change the Channel? Studying Effects of Age on Emotion Regulation Using a TV Watching Paradigm

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21209201
AutoresMolly Sands (Northeastern University), Adam Garbacz (Northeastern University), Derek M Isaacowitz (0000-0002-6187-4401, Northeastern University, autor correspondente)
Ano2016
Volume7
Fascículo8
Páginas788-795
Data de publicação2016-11-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocial Psychological and Personality Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1948-5506 • E-ISSN: 1948-5514
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1948550616660593
PMID28090248
OpenAlexW2487479688
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas21

Older adults are theorized to benefit from proactive forms of emotion regulation that allow them to avoid negative stimuli. To test this, we examined choices as a form of emotion regulation. In two studies investigating age differences, participants selected affective stimuli using a cable television interface, while choices and mood were recorded. In lab-based Study 1, older adults spent more time watching neutral channels, but younger adults spent more time watching positive ones. Older adults also watched more low-arousal content, while younger adults watched more high-arousal content. Lagged analyses revealed that younger adults’ choices were directed toward increasing positive affect and arousal. Study 2 replicated these findings in a community-based adult life span sample at a local museum. These findings suggest that arousal plays an important role in motivating emotion regulation behavior in the context of selections, and this differs by age

Arousal · Developmental psychology · Low arousal theory · Mood · Young adult · Aging and Gerontology Research · Communication · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults