Age Differences in Interpreting Ambiguous Situations: The Effects of Content Themes and Depressed Mood

Conclusions:
Our results showed that thematic factors had an effect on the positivity effect on interpretation generation, but regardless of content themes, older adults selected a less negative interpretation as the most likely, despite knowing alternative negative explanations. The positivity effect remained for older adults in high trait and state depressed mood. Together these findings are consistent with the pattern of older adults’ tendency to maximize emotional well-being through less negative interpretations of ambiguous situations.

Source: Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences - October 16, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Juang, C., Knight, B. G. Tags: Original Research Report Source Type: research