Program Area: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Joanna Hong, PhD
Postdoctoral research fellow
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Meng Huo, PhD
Assistant Professor of Human Development
Human Ecology
University of California, Davis
DAVIS, California, United States
David Almeida, PhD
Professor
Human Development and Family Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
Joanna Hong, PhD
Postdoctoral research fellow
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Meng Huo, PhD
Assistant Professor of Human Development
Human Ecology
University of California, Davis
DAVIS, California, United States
Yijung Kim, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Texas Aging & Longevity Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Crystal Ng, PHD
Postdoctoral Scholar
HDFS
University of Michigan
Austin, Texas, United States
Jonathan Rush, PhD
Assistant Professor
Human Development and Family Studies
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Different daily contexts (i.e., social, behavioral, emotional) influence psychological and physical health. In particular, daily contexts change across adulthood and identifying salutary daily contexts is vital for improving the health of middle-aged and older adults. This symposium adds to a burgeoning literature and presents studies that examine how different daily contexts (social - friend interactions, behavioral - electronic usage, emotional - affective response) impact health outcomes across adulthood. Ng et al. found that friend interactions were associated with poorer heart rate variability throughout the day among Black, but not White adults. Kim et al. showed that evening computer use, a health-impairing behavior, is associated with greater sleep disturbances on the following nights among older adults. Rush et al. found that low and high levels of negative affect reactivity to stressors (increased negative affect in response to stress) were associated with poorer health. Yet, moderate levels of stress reactivity predicted better health. Similarly, Hong et al. found that less positive affect reactivity to stressors (decreased positive affect in response to stress) was protective against elevated systolic blood pressure across stressful days. Lastly, Huo et al. identified an association between older adults’ empathy and daily rumination (i.e., repetitive thoughts) over distress, but observed that the link was attenuated on days when older adults maintained more stable levels of negative affect. Together, findings may inform future interventions aimed at increasing health across adulthood. Dr. Almeida will serve as the Discussant and summarize these studies with regard to their theoretical and methodological contributions.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Joanna H. Hong, PhD – The Pennsylvania State University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Meng Huo, PhD – University of California, Davis
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yijung K. Kim, PhD – The University of Texas at Austin
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Crystal Ng, PHD – University of Michigan
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jonathan Rush, PhD – University of Victoria