Age, Neuroticism, and Stressor-Related Negative Affect: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Evidence from a Measurement Burst Study.

Objectives: Some studies in lifespan samples show that neuroticism is associated with larger increases in negative affect (NA) with stressor exposure, whereas older age is associated with smaller differences held within older adulthood and within individuals, longitudinally. In a sample of adults over age 70, the present study (1) examined whether the relationship between stressor exposure and NA was moderated by neuroticism and (2) tested cross-sectional age differences and longitudinal aging-related change in the stressor-NA slope.

Methods: This pre-registered secondary analysis draws from three ecological momentary assessment measurement bursts over three years collected in Bronx, New York, USA. Participants (N = 318; Mage = 76.98) reported trait neuroticism at baseline, recent stressor exposure, and momentary NA five times daily for each 16-day burst.

Results: Using four-level multilevel models, we found positive within- (momentary: B = 6.88, SE = 0.44; day: B = 5.79, SE = 0.38) and between-person effects of stressor exposure (B = 19.21, SE = 3.53) on NA. Greater neuroticism was associated with higher average NA across the study (B = 4.32, SE = 1.06). Contrary to findings in younger and lifespan samples, neuroticism did not moderate the stressor-NA slope. Neither cross-sectional age differences nor longitudinal change were found in the stressor-NA slope, but longitudinal increases in average NA were observed.

Discussion: Together, these findings suggest that there are conditions when older age does not produce better emotion regulation, and that other characteristics besides neuroticism may underlie differences in stressor-related NA in older adults.