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Long- and short-term affective states in happiness: Model, paradigm and experimental evidence

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Abstract

The present paper evaluates relevant findings on long- and short-term affective states in subjective well-being and argues for a componential model that combines the two into the more general concept of happiness. Two age parameters, one for long-term and one for short-term affect are added to the simple model to account for age changes in happiness. Measures of long- and short-term affect are presented, as is a paradigm for separating the components. Support for the simple model is provided by an experimental investigation with 64 college students who were exposed to positive and/or negative mood induction. As expected, the induction had substantially greater effect on short- than on long-term affect measures, particularly the negative induction procedure. These findings are consistent with predictions. However, multiple age cohorts will have to be assessed within a longitudinal framework to obtain values for the age parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Memorial University, A1B 3X9, St John's, New Foundland, Canada

    Albert Kozma, Susan Stone, M. J. Stones, T. E. Hannah & Kevin McNeil

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  1. Albert Kozma
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  2. Susan Stone
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  3. M. J. Stones
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  4. T. E. Hannah
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  5. Kevin McNeil
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This research was supported by an SSHRCC Grant to the senior author.

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Kozma, A., Stone, S., Stones, M.J. et al. Long- and short-term affective states in happiness: Model, paradigm and experimental evidence. Social Indicators Research 22, 119–138 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00354836

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