Associations between enjoyable activities and uplifting events: Effects on momentary positive affect in adulthood

Abstract

This study examined the effects of participation in enjoyable activities and the experience of uplifting events on individuals’ momentary positive affect (PA) and tested for age differences in these effects. 176 adults (ages 25–66) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) 5 times per day for 14 days. We found that individuals reported higher levels of PA at times when an uplifting event had occurred compared to times when an uplifting event had not occurred (p < 0.05), and this association was amplified among those who participated less frequently in enjoyable activities (p < 0.05). The moderating effect of participation in enjoyable activities was invariant across the sample’s age range. The findings demonstrated that individuals who habitually participated in enjoyable activities experienced higher levels of PA in everyday life. In contrast, individuals who infrequently or never engaged in enjoyable activities depended upon recent uplifting events to experience higher levels of PA.

Keywords:

• Enjoyable activities
• daily uplifts
• affective reactivity
• age-related differences

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R01 AG039409, R01 AG042595, P01 AG03949, CTSA 1UL1TR001073 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the Leonard and Sylvia Marx Foundation, and the Czap Foundation.