Investigating Affective Responding to Daily Positive Events Among Adolescents Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

• Published in: The Journal of early adolescence Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 542 - 564
• Main Authors: Chun, Sarah K., Benjamin, Katherine S., Mezulis, Amy H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Adolescents; Emotional Response; Evaluation Methods; Experience; Gender Differences; Individual Differences; Middle School Students; daily positive events; positive affect; adolescents; affective responding; ecological momentary assessment
• ISSN: 0272-4316; 1552-5449
• DOI: 10.1177/02724316211058066

The experience of positive events is associated with increased positive affect, which can beneficially impact the physical and mental health outcomes of adolescents. Despite an increase in important life events during adolescence, little research has examined the influence of positive events on affect in this population. This study used Ecological Momentary Assessment to investigate individual differences in the effects of daily positive events on momentary positive and negative affect and event-specific positive affect among 136 adolescents (M age = 13.03 years). Results indicated that interpersonal and independent events elicited greater event-specific positive affect than non-interpersonal and dependent events. Dependent interpersonal events were associated with the greatest positive affect compared to other combinations of event types. Gender did not moderate these effects. These findings may address the gap in the literature regarding the types of daily positive events that elicit the most positive affect in adolescents, and in turn, may enhance well-being.