Exploring positive and negative affect as key indicators of life satisfaction among centenarians: Does cognitive performance matter?

The aim of this investigation was to determine how cognitive performance was associated with positive and negative affect and life satisfaction over time. this study involved a secondary longitudinal analysis of cross-section data collected at phase i (1988-1992) and during an 18-month longitudinal followup at phase ii (1992-1998) of the georgia centenarian study. participants included n = 137 centenarians at time 1 and n = 68 survivors at time 2. significant stability in cognitive impairment existed at time 1 and time 2 for positive (β =.55,p <.01) and negative affect (β =.54,p <.01) models. negative affect at time 1 was associated with lower life satisfaction at time 1 (β = -.42,p <.01). in addition,cognitive impairment at time 2 was associated with decreased positive emotionality at time 2 (β = -.39,p >.01). furthermore,greater positive affect at time 2 was associated with greater satisfaction with life at time 2 (β =. 35,p <.0 1). it appears that positive emotionality contemporaneously influences the association between cognitive impairment and life satisfaction among centenarians. implications relative to improving life satisfaction among centenarians are discussed. © 2011 alex j. bishop et al.