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Age Differences in Mood: Structure, Mean Level, and Diurnal Variation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

J. Kevin McNeil ,
M. J. Stones ,
Albert Kozma  and
David Andres
J. Kevin McNeil
Affiliation:
Saint John Regional Hospital
M. J. Stones
Affiliation:
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Albert Kozma
Affiliation:
Memorial University of Newfoundland
David Andres
Affiliation:
Concordia University
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Abstract

In a sample of 1449 adults, divided by age into young, middle-age, and old, mood was found to consist of two age invariant components, vigour and affect. Factor structure differed by age for affect but not vigour. For old adults, two unipolar affect factors were obtained, whereas one bipolar affect factor was obtained for the two younger groups. From these factor analyses a mood scale (the Memorial University Mood Scale, the MUMS) was developed and its predictive validity and reliability established for all age groups. Using the MUMS, mean level differences by age were found in both vigour and affect, as well as a measure of globed mood, with the old adults higher on all three measures. Age invariant, diurnal patterns were found for both vigour and affect. Vigour followed an inverted U-shaped diurnal pattern and affect a primarily linear pattern, suggestive of appraisals of somatic state and environmental conditions, respectively.

Résumé

Les résultats d'un sondage mené auprès de 1449 adultes, répartis selon les groupes d'âge suivants: jeune, âge moyen et vieux, ont démontré que l'humeur compte deux composantes invariantes liées à l'âge, soit la vigueur et l'affect. La structure factorielle variait selon l'âge dans le cas de l'affect, mais non de la vigueur. Chez les adultes plus âgés, l'étude a établi deux facteurs unipolaires de l'affect, tandis que dans les deux autres groupes, un facteur bipolaire de l'affect a été obtenu. De ces analyses factorielles, une échelle de l'humeur (Memorial Mood Scale, ou MUMS) a été élaborée ainsi qu'une valeur prévisionnelle et fiable pour tous les groupes d'âge. Grâce à cette échelle, des différences moyennes de niveau par âge ont été observées en ce qui touche la vigueur et l'affect, et l'humeur générale a pu être mesurée. Les résultats étaient plus élevés chez le groupe des plus âgés sur ces trois plans. La vigueur et l'affect ont révélé des schémas invariants selon l'âge et le moment de la journée. La vigueur suivait un schéma diurnal inversé en forme de U, tandis que l'affect présentait un schéma principalement linéaire, ce qui suggère des évaluations de l'état somatique et des conditions environnantes, respectivement.

Keywords

MoodVigourAffectAgingScaleDiurnal Variation.Humeurvigueuraffectvieillissementéchellevariation diurne.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , Été/Summer 1994 , pp. 201 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1994

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