Psychological Resilience and Positive Emotional Granularity: Examining the Benefits of Positive Emotions on Coping and Health

doi:10.1111/J.1467-6494.2004.00294.X

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Psychological Resilience and Positive Emotional Granularity: Examining the Benefits of Positive Emotions on Coping and Health

Journal Article•DOI•

Psychological Resilience and Positive Emotional Granularity: Examining the Benefits of Positive Emotions on Coping and Health

Michele M. Tugade¹, Barbara L. Fredrickson², Lisa Feldman Barrett³•Institutions (3)

Vassar College¹, University of Michigan², Boston College³

01 Dec 2004-Journal of Personality (Blackwell Publishing)-Vol. 72, Iss: 6, pp 1161-1190

TL;DR: It is argued that the health benefits advanced by positive emotions may be instantiated in certain traits that are characterized by the experience of positive emotion, including psychological resilience and positive emotional granularity.

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Abstract: For centuries, folk theory has promoted the idea that positive emotions are good for your health. Accumulating empirical evidence is providing support for this anecdotal wisdom. We use the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 1998; 2001) as a framework to demonstrate that positive emotions contribute to psychological and physical well-being via more effective coping. We argue that the health benefits advanced by positive emotions may be instantiated in certain traits that are characterized by the experience of positive emotion. Towards this end, we examine individual differences in psychological resilience (the ability to bounce back from negative events by using positive emotions to cope) and positive emotional granularity (the tendency to represent experiences of positive emotion with precision and specificity). Individual differences in these traits are examined in two studies, one using psychophysiological evidence, the second using evidence from experience sampling, to demonstrate that positive emotions play a crucial role in enhancing coping resources in the face of negative events. Implications for research on coping and health are discussed.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Positive psychological capital: measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction

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Fred Luthans¹, Bruce J. Avolio¹, James B. Avey², Steven M. Norman³•Institutions (3)

University of Nebraska–Lincoln¹, Central Washington University², Colorado Mesa University³

01 Sep 2007-Personnel Psychology

TL;DR: In this article, two studies were conducted to analyze how hope, resilience, optimism, and efficacy individually and as a composite higher-order factor predicted work performance and satisfaction, and the results indicated that the composite factor may be a better predictor of performance than the individual facets.

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Abstract: Two studies were conducted to analyze how hope, resilience, optimism, and efficacy individually and as a composite higher-order factor predicted work performance and satisfaction. Results from Study 1 provided psychometric support for a new survey measure designed to assess each of these 4 facets, as well as a composite factor. Study 2 results indicated a significant positive relationship regarding the composite of these 4 facets with performance and satisfaction. Results from Study 2 also indicated that the composite factor may be a better predictor of performance and satisfaction than the 4 individual facets. Limitations and practical implications conclude the article.

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3,071 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Constructive and Unconstructive Repetitive Thought.

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Edward R. Watkins¹•Institutions (1)

University of Exeter¹

01 Mar 2008-Psychological Bulletin

TL;DR: Of the existing models of RT, it is proposed that an elaborated version of the control theory account provides the best theoretical framework to account for its distinct consequences.

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Abstract: The author reviews research showing that repetitive thought (RT) can have constructive or unconstructive consequences. The main unconstructive consequences of RT are (a) depression, (b) anxiety, and (c) difficulties in physical health. The main constructive consequences of RT are (a) recovery from upsetting and traumatic events, (b) adaptive preparation and anticipatory planning, (c) recovery from depression, and (d) uptake of health-promoting behaviors. Several potential principles accounting for these distinct consequences of RT are identified within this review: (a) the valence of thought content, (b) the intrapersonal and situational context in which RT occurs, and (c) the level of construal (abstract vs. concrete processing) adopted during RT. Of the existing models of RT, it is proposed that an elaborated version of the control theory account provides the best theoretical framework to account for its distinct

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1,896 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Prefrontal-subcortical pathways mediating successful emotion regulation.

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Tor D. Wager¹, Matthew Davidson¹, Brent L. Hughes¹, Martin A. Lindquist¹, Kevin N. Ochsner¹ - Show less +1 more•Institutions (1)

Columbia University¹

25 Sep 2008-Neuron

TL;DR: Evidence is provided that right ventrolateral prefrontal region (vlPFC) is involved in both the generation and regulation of emotion through different subcortical pathways, suggesting a general role for this region in appraisal processes.

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1,506 citations

Cites background or result from "Psychological Resilience and Positi..."

...…in other reappraisal studies that use the amygdala as an outcome variable – but did not measure emotional experience (or any other behavioral index of emotional response) (Johnstone et al., 2007; Urry et al., 2006; van Reekum et al., 2007) – may in fact be relevant to shaping emotional experience....
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...However, its focus in previous papers (Johnstone et al., 2007; Urry et al., 2006) suggests that it may play an important role in reappraisal, and in our study it seemed to be related to the enhancement of NAC/VS activity that, in turn, predicted reappraisal success....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Psychological resilience, positive emotions, and successful adaptation to stress in later life.

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Anthony D. Ong¹, C. S. Bergeman¹, Toni L. Bisconti², Kimberly A. Wallace³•Institutions (3)

University of Notre Dame¹, University of New Hampshire², University of Montana³

01 Oct 2006-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

TL;DR: Findings indicated that over time, the experience of positive emotions functions to assist high-resilient individuals in their ability to recover effectively from daily stress.

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Abstract: In 3 studies, the authors investigated the functional role of psychological resilience and positive emotions in the stress process. Studies 1a and 1b explored naturally occurring daily stressors. Study 2 examined data from a sample of recently bereaved widows. Across studies, multilevel random coefficient modeling analyses revealed that the occurrence of daily positive emotions serves to moderate stress reactivity and mediate stress recovery. Findings also indicated that differences in psychological resilience accounted for meaningful variation in daily emotional responses to stress. Higher levels of trait resilience predicted a weaker association between positive and negative emotions, particularly on days characterized by heightened stress. Finally, findings indicated that over time, the experience of positive emotions functions to assist high-resilient individuals in their ability to recover effectively from daily stress. Implications for research into protective factors that serve to inhibit the scope, severity, and diffusion of daily stressors in later adulthood are discussed.

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1,209 citations

Cites background or result from "Psychological Resilience and Positi..."

...…positive emotions may serve to strengthen resistance to stress by affording greater access to positive emotional resources (Ong & Bergeman, 2004a; Tugade et al., 2004), which, in turn, may help to provide a momentary respite from ongoing stressful experiences (Folkman & Moskowitz, 2000a; see…...
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...…ability of high-resilient individuals to recover more effectively from stressful experiences (Fredrickson et al., 2003; Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004; Tugade et al., 2004).7 Study 1b In Study 1a, we presented evidence that trait-resilient individuals have a tendency to (a) experience positive…...
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...…on duration of cardiovascular reactivity and depressive symptoms was mediated by subjective reports of positive emotion (Fredrickson et al., 2003; Tugade et al., 2004).1 Although far from definitive, the available empirical evidence suggests that psychological resilience is associated with…...
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...Which traits help some to maintain and regain emotional well-being whereas others languish in feelings of helplessness and hopelessness? Particular attention has recently been paid to psychological traits that generate and sustain positive emotions under stressful conditions (e.g., Ong et al., 2004; Tugade et al., 2004; Zautra et al., 2001)....
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...These findings thus strengthen the prediction that positive emotions may afford daily protective benefits by contributing to the ability of high-resilient individuals to recover more effectively from stressful experiences (Fredrickson et al., 2003; Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004; Tugade et al., 2004)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

The psychology of emotion regulation: An integrative review

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Sander L. Koole¹•Institutions (1)

University of Amsterdam¹

01 Jan 2009-Cognition & Emotion

TL;DR: A review of modern research on the psychology of emotion regulation can be found in this paper, where the authors classified emotion-regulation strategies in terms of their targets and functions and relevant empirical work is reviewed.

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Abstract: The present article reviews modern research on the psychology of emotion regulation. Emotion regulation determines the offset of emotional responding and is thus distinct from emotional sensitivity, which determines the onset of emotional responding. Among the most viable categories for classifying emotion-regulation strategies are the targets and functions of emotion regulation. The emotion-generating systems that are targeted in emotion regulation include attention, knowledge, and bodily responses. The functions of emotion regulation include satisfying hedonic needs, supporting specific goal pursuits, and facilitating the global personality system. Emotion-regulation strategies are classified in terms of their targets and functions and relevant empirical work is reviewed. Throughout this review, emotion regulation emerges as one of the most far-ranging and influential processes at the interface of cognition and emotion.

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1,162 citations

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References

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The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

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Reuben M. Baron, David A. Kenny

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TL;DR: This article seeks to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably by carefully elaborating the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ, and delineates the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena.

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Abstract: In this article, we attempt to distinguish between the properties of moderator and mediator variables at a number of levels. First, we seek to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably by carefully elaborating, both conceptually and strategically, the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ. We then go beyond this largely pedagogical function and delineate the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena, including control and stress, attitudes, and personality traits. We also provide a specific compendium of analytic procedures appropriate for making the most effective use of the moderator and mediator distinction, both separately and in terms of a broader causal system that includes both moderators and mediators.

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80,095 citations

"Psychological Resilience and Positi..." refers methods in this paper

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Abstract: Here is a monumental work that continues in the tradition pioneered by co-author Richard Lazarus in his classic book Psychological Stress and the Coping Process. Dr. Lazarus and his collaborator, Dr. Susan Folkman, present here a detailed theory of psychological stress, building on the concepts of cognitive appraisal and coping which have become major themes of theory and investigation. As an integrative theoretical analysis, this volume pulls together two decades of research and thought on issues in behavioral medicine, emotion, stress management, treatment, and life span development. A selective review of the most pertinent literature is included in each chapter. The total reference listing for the book extends to 60 pages. This work is necessarily multidisciplinary, reflecting the many dimensions of stress-related problems and their situation within a complex social context. While the emphasis is on psychological aspects of stress, the book is oriented towards professionals in various disciplines, as well as advanced students and educated laypersons. The intended audience ranges from psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses, and social workers to sociologists, anthropologists, medical researchers, and physiologists.

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37,447 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales.

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David Watson¹, Lee Anna Clark, Auke Tellegen•Institutions (1)

Southern Methodist University¹

30 May 1988-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

TL;DR: Two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) are developed and are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period.

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Abstract: In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented.

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34,482 citations

"Psychological Resilience and Positi..." refers result in this paper

...Results revealed support for this prediction: Trait resilience was positively associated with positive mood as assessed by the PANAS (Watson et al., 1988) (r5 ....
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...Results revealed support for this prediction: Trait resilience was positively associated with positive mood as assessed by the PANAS (Watson et al., 1988) (r5 .38, po.01), (but not associated with negative mood)....
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...Participants also completed self-reports of subjective emotional experience, ambient positive and negative mood (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1989), and trait resilience (Block & Kremen, 1996)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability.

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Patrick E. Shrout¹, Joseph L. Fleiss•Institutions (1)

Columbia University¹

01 Mar 1979-Psychological Bulletin

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present guidelines for choosing among six different forms of the intraclass correlation for reliability studies in which n target are rated by k judges, and the confidence intervals for each of the forms are reviewed.

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Abstract: Reliability coefficients often take the form of intraclass correlation coefficients. In this article, guidelines are given for choosing among six different forms of the intraclass correlation for reliability studies in which n target are rated by k judges. Relevant to the choice of the coefficient are the appropriate statistical model for the reliability and the application to be made of the reliability results. Confidence intervals for each of the forms are reviewed.

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21,185 citations

"Psychological Resilience and Positi..." refers background in this paper

...Average intraclass correlations (ICCs) (cf., Shrout & Fleiss, 1979 ) with absolute agreement between emotion markers across the period of observation were calculated for each participant....
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...Average intraclass correlations (ICCs) (cf., Shrout & Fleiss, 1979) with absolute agreement between emotion markers across the period of observation were calculated for each participant....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Assessing Coping Strategies: A Theoretically Based Approach

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Charles S. Carver¹, Michael F. Scheier², Jagdish Kumari Weintraub¹•Institutions (2)

University of Miami¹, Carnegie Mellon University²

01 Feb 1989-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

TL;DR: A multidimensional coping inventory to assess the different ways in which people respond to stress was developed and an initial examination of associations between dispositional and situational coping tendencies was allowed.

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Abstract: We developed a multidimensional coping inventory to assess the different ways in which people respond to stress. Five scales (of four items each) measure conceptually distinct aspects of problem-focused coping (active coping, planning, suppression of competing activities, restraint coping, seeking of instrumental social support); five scales measure aspects of what might be viewed as emotional-focused coping (seeking of emotional social support, positive reinterpretation, acceptance, denial, turning to religion); and three scales measure coping responses that arguably are less useful (focus on and venting of emotions, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement). Study 1 reports the development of scale items. Study 2 reports correlations between the various coping scales and several theoretically relevant personality measures in an effort to provide preliminary information about the inventory's convergent and discriminant validity. Study 3 uses the inventory to assess coping responses among a group of undergraduates who were attempting to cope with a specific stressful episode. This study also allowed an initial examination of associations between dispositional and situational coping tendencies.

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10,143 citations

"Psychological Resilience and Positi..." refers background in this paper

...05), which suggests taking a momentary pause before attempting coping efforts (Carver et al., 1989)....
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...Positive emotional granularity was also associated with increased behavioral disengagement (r5 .20, po.05), which suggests taking a momentary pause before attempting coping efforts (Carver et al., 1989)....
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