This specific type of positive emotion predicts life satisfaction better than the rest
Think feeling excited and enthusiastic is the secret to a great life? A new analysis of nearly 30,000 people suggests a completely different kind of positive emotion actually drives true life satisfaction.
A recent study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology has found that pleasant positive emotions are more closely linked to life satisfaction than energized positive emotions. The research, led by Jinrui Liu and her team, analyzed data from two longitudinal studies, one conducted in Germany and the other in the Netherlands.
The analysis involved 17,532 participants, representing three different birth cohorts. The findings suggest that while both pleasant and energized positive emotions are associated with life satisfaction, the connection is stronger with pleasant emotions. This association appears to work in both directions, with earlier life satisfaction influencing positive emotions and vice versa.
The study also highlights differences in how personality traits, such as extraversion and neuroticism, predict these two types of positive emotions.
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