BEFORE AND AFTER DAILY STRESSORS - Implications for Daily Health and Well-being in Middle-aged and Older Adults

Sep 29, 2026

Stressor exposure predicts higher negative affect, worse physical health, and poorer memory performance, yet prior work has mostly relied on retrospective reports of stressors that already occurred. This study examines, within daily life, the combined contribution of retrospective daily stressors and forecasts of future stressors among middle-aged and older adults. Over 30 days, 264 participants completed an online daily diary assessing negative affect, physical health challenges, memory issues, and stressor likelihood.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract citation ID: igaf122.125

Session 1120 (Paper) - Psychosocial and Behavioral Dimensions of Healthy Aging

Study Design and Goal

Participants and Daily Diary Measures

Key Findings

Implications for Interventions

38 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 within the next 24 hours. Separate multilevel models were conducted for each outcome (affect, memory, health) with retrospective stressor exposure and stressor forecasts as within-person predictors. Across the three models, increases in forecasts of future stressors were associated with increases in negative affect, health challenges, and memory issues. However, increases in daily stressor exposure were associated with increases in negative affect and health challenges, but not memory issues. In addition to discussing the significance of these findings, we will explore how understanding this interplay of past daily stressors and appraisals of future stressors may inform targeted interventions designed to support older adults’ well-being. SESSION 1120 (PAPER) PSYCHOSOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL DIMENSIONS OF HEALTHY AGING Abstract citation ID: igaf122.125 BEFORE AND AFTER DAILY STRESSORS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DAILY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS MacKenzie Hughes1, Emily Smith2, Shevaun Neupert3, and Ann Pearman4, 1. National Opinion Research Center at The University of Chicago, Gig Harbor, Washington, United States, 2. Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, Vermont, United States, 3. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 4. MetroHealth Medical System, Cleveland, Ohio, United States Stressor exposure is associated with higher negative affect, worse physical health, and poorer memory performance. However, these processes have typically been evaluated from retrospective accounts of stressors that have already occurred. The goal of the current study was to examine the simultaneous contribution of retrospective daily stressors and forecasts of future stressors as they unfold within the daily lives of middle-aged and older adults. Two hundred sixty-four adults (mean age = 64.11, range 55-79) participated in an online daily diary study for 30 consecutive days. Each day they reported on their negative affect as well as challenges with their physical health and memory. They also reported on the stressors encountered in the previous 24 hours and rated the likelihood of experiencing a stressor

FAQs

What did the study investigate about daily stressors and aging well-being?

It assessed how retrospective daily stressor exposure and forecasts of future stressors jointly relate to negative affect, physical health challenges, and memory issues as they unfold in daily life.

How was the study conducted?

A 30-day online daily diary study included 264 adults aged 55–79, with each day measuring negative affect, physical health challenges, memory issues, and stressors experienced in the prior 24 hours plus perceived likelihood of future stressors.

What were the main results for stressor exposure versus stressor forecasts?

Higher forecasts of future stressors were linked to increases in negative affect, health challenges, and memory issues. In contrast, increases in daily stressor exposure related to negative affect and health challenges but not memory issues.

Sep 29, 2026

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