The process basis and predictive value of emotion dynamics for psychological well-being.

Our well-being is not only reflected in how we feel on average, but also in how our feelings change. Studying the patterns and regularities of these changes provides a wealth of information about how we emotionally respond to events and how we regulate our emotions, for better or for worse. While we know that these emotion dynamics play an important role for our well-beging, researchers have yet come to understand what lies at the basis of particular patterns of emotion dynamics, and what role they play in our well-being. With this project, we aim to uncover the processes that underlie how people's feelings vary across time and carry over from one moment to the next, and how they impact their well-being. At the core of this project lies a large-scale longitudinal study in which a cohort of late adolescents is followed during the challenging transition into higher education. The data will be used to (1) cross-sectionally examine the processes underlying key dynamical emotion characteristics and their relationship to personality, emotion reactivity and regulation, and (2) longitudinally examine how these characteristics prospectively predict, and are predicted by, well-being, adjustment, and imprtant life outcomes. The outcome of this project is expected to provide concrete insights into factors contributing to human thriving and suffering, and provide clues to how we can cultivate the former and combat the latter.

Keywords:Affect, Happiness, Affective disorders, Mood disorder, Depression, Dynamics, Well-being, Emotions

Disciplines:Applied psychology, Psychiatry and psychotherapy, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Clinical and counselling psychology, Other psychology and cognitive sciences