Examining specific emotion dynamics in daily life in male adolescents: An experience sampling method study

TL;DR

This study explores how emotions in male adolescents change during daily life and what factors influence these changes.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how psychological traits and social contexts shape emotional dynamics in male adolescents.

Findings

Higher adjustment problems are linked to fewer positive emotions.

Non-adaptive emotion regulation increases negative emotions.

Self-control is associated with more positive and fewer negative emotions.

Abstract

The dynamics of emotions (e.g., emotion intensity and differentiation) are pivotal for adolescents’ mental health. This study examined how psychological characteristics and the social environment influence the dynamics of six emotions in male adolescents during their daily lives. Sixty-two male adolescents (aged between 12–17 years, sufficiently fluent in French, and having access to a smartphone) with varying degrees of adjustment problems (assessed through the youth self-report questionnaire) participated in an experience sampling study (4x/day over 9 days, excluding weekends). Greater adjustment problems, were associated with fewer positive emotions, while greater use of non-adaptive emotion regulation was linked to more negative emotions. Being alone was linked to lower intensity of positive emotions and higher intensity of negative ones. Higher momentary self-control was related to higher intensity of positive emotions and lower intensity of negative ones. This study provides novel insights into the dynamics of male adolescents’ emotional experiences by enhancing the understanding of emotions’ contextual anchoring combined with psychological characteristics.

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