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5 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 5

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Nan Zhao, David L. Vogel, Thomas Kubiak, Lara Kristin Mey, Karolina Morello, Oliver Tüscher

Date Published: 1st Jul 2025

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

ABSTRACT Objective Research challenged the notion that neuroticism correlates with affective variability, suggesting that it may result from statistical artifacts due to the non‐normal distribution ofistical artifacts due to the non‐normal distribution of negative affect. We aim to advance this line of research by (a) introducing affect balance as a normally distributed measure of affective well‐being and (b) examining current affect balance as a moderator of the relationship between neuroticism and affect balance variability. Method We meta‐analyzed the results of 14 ambulatory assessment datasets ( N  = 2389 participants, N  = 174,423 observations). Result s We found that while the associations between the mean and affective variability were large for negative affect, they were much smaller for affect balance. Moreover, the association between neuroticism and variability in negative affect was very small, yet medium‐sized for affect balance. Importantly, the latter association depended on current affect levels: Participants high relative to low in neuroticism showed stronger subsequent fluctuations in affect balance when currently feeling better than usual, but weaker subsequent fluctuations in (and thus more persistent) affect balance when currently feeling worse than usual. Conclusion Increased variability should not be seen as a bad sign but may be a sign that an affective system is changing, which may be adaptive or maladaptive for an individual, depending on the initial state of the system.

Authors: Mario Wenzel, Whitney R. Ringwald, Aleksandra Kaurin, Oliver Tüscher, Thomas Kubiak, Aidan G. C. Wright

Date Published: 1st Jun 2025

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Neuroticism is an important predictor of well-being that is conceptualized by high levels of mean negative affect and negative affect variability. However, research has shown that negative affectegative affect variability only explained limited additional variance in neuroticism when the confound with mean negative affect was accounted for using a modified version of the standard deviation ( SD), the relative standard deviation ( RSD). Here, we (a) examined the suitability of the RSD as a variability measure, (b) introduced the number of negative affect episodes as an alternative measure of negative affect variability, and (c) investigated the relationship between neuroticism and negative affect variability, accounting for measurement error. Re-analyzing three experience sampling datasets ( N = 430 participants), we found several issues with the RSD, which limits its use as a negative affect variability measure, and which were not found for the number of negative affect episodes measure. Moreover, only the SD and the number of negative affect episodes explained substantial variance in neuroticism above mean negative affect. Thus, neuroticism was associated with experiencing negative affect more strongly and more often in daily life, when measurement error was accounted for, which demonstrates the importance to model reliability and to correct accordingly.

Authors: Mario Wenzel, Zarah Rowland, Lara K Mey, Karolina Kurth, Oliver Tüscher, Thomas Kubiak

Date Published: 1st May 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: While self-compassion (SC) has mostly been understood as a stable trait-like property, growing evidence suggests that it may fluctuate over time within a given individual. However, little is known on how these fluctuations relate to affective well-being and affective dynamics, such as emotional inertia and stress reactivity in daily life. METHODS: A sample of 119 non-clinical individuals (mean age: 31.3 years, 53.8% female) completed a 7-day smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment study with six semi-random signals per day. With each signal, individuals reported their momentary positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), recent SC, and occurrence and perceived strain of daily hassles since the last signal. RESULTS: Whenever individuals reported higher recent SC than usual, they experienced higher momentary PA and lower momentary NA. Moreover, higher recent SC related to lower stress reactivity in terms of lower decrease of PA and lower increase of NA following the experience of daily hassles. No associations between SC and emotional inertia were found. When distinguishing between the positive components (SC-Pos) and negative components (SC-Neg) of SC, SC-Neg (compared to SC-Pos) was more strongly connected to NA, while SC-Pos and SC-Neg were similarly connected to PA. SC-Pos was associated with an attenuated NA stress reactivity, and SC-Neg with an increased NA stress reactivity. SC-Pos and SC-Neg did not significantly moderate PA stress reactivity nor emotional inertia. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that the benefits of SC for well-being and stress reactivity may unfold whenever we treat ourselves with compassion, irrespective of how self-compassionate we are in general. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-022-02050-y.

Authors: L. K. Mey, M. Wenzel, K. Morello, Z. Rowland, T. Kubiak, O. Tuscher

Date Published: 17th Jan 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: A. Schmoldt, H. F. Benthe, G. Haberland

Date Published: 1st Sep 1975

Publication Type: Journal

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