A CLOSER LOOK AT EMOTIONAL ACCEPTANCE IN LATE LIFE
2024
Emotional Acceptance in Older Adults
Sample size: 370
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Haase Claudia, Li Yu, Yu Chen-Wei, Fu Lillian, Rompilla David
Primary Institution: Northwestern University
Hypothesis
Older adults prefer emotional acceptance over other emotion regulation strategies.
Conclusion
Emotional acceptance is linked to better mental health and physiological responses in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Emotional acceptance was associated with greater vagal reactivity during emotion regulation.
- Emotional acceptance correlated with lower anxiety and depressive symptoms.
- A confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptance of negative and positive emotions as distinct factors.
Takeaway
Older people feel better when they accept their emotions instead of trying to change them.
Methodology
Two studies were conducted: one laboratory-based and one online, examining emotional regulation strategies in older adults.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 64-88.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website