The long-term stability and predictive validity of trait measures of affect

Bibliographic Data

ID6207601
AuthorsDavid Watson (0000-0002-2749-6136, University of Iowa, corresponding author), David C Watson (0000-0003-2125-2373), Lori Mckee Walker
Year1996
Volume70
Issue3
Pages567-577
Publication date1996-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037//0022-3514.70.3.567
PMID8851741
OpenAlexW4233926801
LanguageEN
Citations received88
References cited36

This study examined the long-term temporal stability and predictive utility of trait Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales. Participants were assessed initially as undergraduates: They rated how they felt generally (general sample) or during the past year (year sample). They were retested on a general affect measure and on scales assessing current depression and anxiety approximately 6 (general sample) or 7 (year sample) years later. By this time, all of them had graduated from college and most were working full-time. Negative Affect scores declined significantly over the study. Nevertheless, the Negative and Positive Affect scales both displayed a significant, moderate level of stability. Moreover, initial scores on both scales correlated significantly with measures of current symptoms that were completed several years later. Thus, trait affect scales were substantially stable--and maintained significant predictive power--even across extended time spans

Affect (linguistics · Anxiety · Developmental psychology · Predictive power · Predictive validity · Psychiatry · Sample (material · Trait · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Mental Health Research Topics · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub