Positive and negative life change and positive and negative affect among the rural elderly

Abstract

Recent research has supported a separate domain model of life change and well-being. According to this model, negative life change primarily influences psychological distress or negative affect, whereas positive life change influences positive affect. Structured interview data from 140 rural older adults were used to test this model. Seven well-being indices were used: three tapping negative affect, two tapping positive affect, and two global measures of well-being. Results did not support the separate domain model. Composite well-being measures were related to both positive and negative life change. Positive affect was largely independent of life change, positive or negative. Contrary to predictions, negative affect was rarely associated with negative life change and was more consistently inversely related to positive life change. Age- and cohort-related reasons for these findings are discussed.

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