BETTER TOGETHER - Momentary Physiological Benefits of Co-Experienced Positive Emotions in Late Life

Sep 29, 2026

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Shared positive emotions can support health and longevity, yet daily-life patterns of co-experiencing between relationship partners are not well understood. This study, guided by Positivity Resonance Theory, examined links between co-experienced positive emotions and momentary cortisol in 321 older couples (ages 56–89). Both partners reported higher-than-usual positive emotions on 38% of shared occasions. Co-experienced positive emotions predicted lower cortisol at the same occasion and at the subsequent assessment, beyond individual emotion reports, age, sex, and relationship satisfaction.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Rationale

Method and Participants

Key Findings

Interpretation and Implications

614 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 3. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 4. Stanford University, Stanford University, California, United States, 5. Humboldt University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 6. Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States, 7. UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Although positive emotions tend to be experienced most frequently and intensely within social interactions, most research has focused on positive emotions at the individual level. Yet, emerging research shows that shared positive emotions predict health and longevity over and above individually experienced positive emotions. However, the extent to which relationship partners co-experience positive emotions in daily life remains poorly understood. Moreover, whether positive emotions “get under the skin,”shaping proximal biomarkers in everyday life, is unclear. Drawing on Positivity Resonance Theory, we examined the links between co-experienced positive emotions and momentary cortisol levels in 321 older couples (ages 56–89). Findings showed that both relationship partners reported higher-than-usual positive emotions during 38% of the occasions they were together. Additionally, co-experienced positive emotions were linked to lower cortisol levels at the same occasion, adjusting for individually experienced positive emotions and several additional individual-level and time-varying covariates. Findings did not differ across age, sex, or relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the physiological benefits of co-experienced positive emotions are not dependent on individual or relationship characteristics. Notably, co-experienced positive emotions were also associated with lower cortisol atthe subsequent assessment (but not vice versa), indicating that the benefits of co-experienced positive emotions extend beyond the immediate moment. This study highlights the important role that shared positive emotions play in promoting physiological health in older adults, providing evidence that co-experienced emotions offer benefits beyond individual experiences. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2104 BETTER TOGETHER: MOMENTARY PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF CO-EXPERIENCED POSITIVE EMOTIONS IN LATE LIFE Tomiko Yoneda1, Nathan Lewis2, Theresa Pauly3NIlam Ram4, Denis Gerstorf5, Claudia Haase6, and Christiane Hoppmann7, 1. University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States, 2. The University of British

FAQs

Why did the study focus on co-experienced positive emotions rather than individual experiences?

Most research examined positive emotions at the individual level, but the study aimed to clarify how shared positive emotions between partners relate to health-relevant outcomes in daily life.

How did the researchers measure physiological effects?

The study linked co-experienced positive emotions to momentary cortisol levels assessed during shared everyday occasions.

Do the physiological benefits depend on age, sex, or relationship satisfaction?

No. Findings did not differ across age, sex, or relationship satisfaction, indicating the benefits were not dependent on those characteristics.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jake