Psychological Science

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Positive Emotions Trigger Upward Spirals Toward Emotional Well-Being

Barbara L. Fredrickson and Thomas Joiner
Psychological Science 2002 13: 172
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9280.00431

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Research Report
POSITIVE EMOTIONS TRIGGER UPWARD SPIRALS TOWARD
EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Barbara L. Fredrickson1 and Thomas Joiner2
1
University of Michigan and 2Florida State University

Abstract—The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions pre- focus. Negative states—like anxiety, depression, and failure—predict
dicts that positive emotions broaden the scopes of attention and cogni- local biases consistent with narrowed attention, whereas positive states—
tion, and, by consequence, initiate upward spirals toward increasing like subjective well-being, optimism, and success—predict global bi-
emotional well-being. The present study assessed this prediction by ases consistent with broadened attention (Basso, Schefft, Ris, & Dem-
testing whether positive affect and broad-minded coping reciprocally ber, 1996; Derryberry & Tucker, 1994). Other experiments have shown
and prospectively predict one another. One hundred thirty-eight col- that positive emotions produce patterns of thought that are notably un-
lege students completed self-report measures of affect and coping at usual, flexible, creative, and receptive (Isen, 1987). In general terms,
two assessment periods 5 weeks apart. As hypothesized, regression positive emotions “enlarge” the cognitive context (Isen, 1987), an ef-
analyses showed that initial positive affect, but not negative affect, fect linked to increases in brain dopamine (Ashby, Isen, & Turken,
predicted improved broad-minded coping, and initial broad-minded 1999).
coping predicted increased positive affect, but not reductions in nega- If positive emotions broaden attention and cognition, enabling flex-
tive affect. Further mediational analyses showed that positive affect ible and creative thinking, they should also facilitate coping with
and broad-minded coping serially enhanced one another. These find- stress and adversity (Aspinwall, 1998). Indeed, people who experi-
ings provide prospective evidence to support the prediction that posi- ence positive emotions during bereavement tend to develop long-term
tive emotions initiate upward spirals toward enhanced emotional well- plans and goals. Together with positive emotions, plans and goals pre-
being. Implications for clinical practice and health promotion are dis- dict greater well-being 12 months postbereavement (Stein, Folkman,
cussed. Trabasso, & Richards, 1997). One way people experience positive
emotions in the face of adversity is by finding positive meaning in or-
dinary events and within the adversity itself (Folkman & Moskowitz,
Positive emotions feel good. Plus, the balance of people’s positive
2000; Fredrickson, 2000). Finding positive meaning also predicts in-
and negative emotions contributes to judgments of life satisfaction
creases in well-being and health (Davis, Nolen-Hoeksema, & Larson,
(Diener & Larsen, 1993). Are these the only reasons people should
1998). The relation between positive meaning and positive emotions is
care about positive emotions? We think not. We propose that positive
considered reciprocal: Not only does finding positive meaning trigger
emotions not only feel good in the present, but also increase the likeli-
positive emotion, but also positive emotions—because they broaden
hood that one will feel good in the future. That is, we suggest that pos-
thinking—increase the likelihood of finding positive meaning in sub-
itive emotions trigger upward spirals toward enhanced emotional well-
sequent events (Fredrickson, 2000).
being.
These suspected reciprocal relations among positive emotions,
This prediction stems from a new perspective on positive emotions
broadened thinking, and positive meaning underlie our prediction that
offered within Fredrickson’s (1998, 2001) broaden-and-build theory.
positive emotions trigger upward spirals. That is, the effects of posi-
This model posits that, unlike negative emotions, which narrow
tive emotions should accumulate and compound: The broadened at-
people’s thought-action repertoires (e.g., fight or flight), positive emo-
tention and cognition triggered by earlier experiences of positive
tions broaden people’s thought-action repertoires, encouraging them
emotion should facilitate coping with adversity, and this improved
to discover novel lines of thought or action. Joy, for instance, creates
coping should in turn predict future experiences of positive emotion.
the urge to play, interest creates the urge to explore, and so on. A
As this cycle continues, people build their psychological resilience
key, incidental outcome of these broadened mind-sets is an increase in
and enhance their emotional well-being.
personal resources: As individuals discover new ideas and actions,
We tested these predictions by assessing affect and coping at two
they build their physical, intellectual, social, and psychological re-
times. We spotlighted positive affect (PA) and broad-minded coping,
sources. Play, for instance, builds physical, socioemotional, and in-
characterized by taking a broad perspective on problems and generat-
tellectual skills, and fuels brain development. Similarly, exploration
ing multiple possible solutions to them. Our first hypothesis was that
increases knowledge and psychological complexity (Fredrickson, 1998,
initial experiences of PA predict improvements in broad-minded cop-
2000).
ing over time. Our second hypothesis was that initial levels of broad-
Key to our proposal that positive emotions trigger upward spirals is
minded coping predict increases in PA over time. We also tested
the proposition that positive emotions broaden attention and cogni-
whether similar relations are linked to negative affect (NA), and pre-
tion. Evidence supporting this claim comes from studies that use glo-
dicted the relations are specific to PA. As another test of specificity, we
bal-local visual processing paradigms to assess biases in attentional
tested whether similar relations with PA (and not NA) emerge for
other coping styles. Our third and fourth hypotheses concerned up-
ward spiral relations directly. Our third hypothesis was that initial PA
predicts subsequent PA, in part through changes in broad-minded cop-
Address correspondence to Barbara L. Fredrickson, Department of Psy- ing. Similarly, our fourth hypothesis was that initial broad-minded
chology, University of Michigan, 525 East University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI coping predicts subsequent broad-minded coping, in part through
48109-1109; e-mail: blf@umich.edu. changes in PA. Support for these hypotheses would suggest that PA

172 Copyright © 2002 American Psychological Society VOL. 13, NO. 2, MARCH 2002

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Barbara L. Fredrickson and Thomas Joiner

and broad-minded coping serially influence one another, creating an RESULTS1

upward spiral toward improved emotional well-being.
Does PA (but Not NA) Predict Improved
METHOD Broad-Minded Coping?
Our first hypothesis was that T1 PA would predict changes in broad-
Participants and Procedure minded coping from T1 to T2, such that the more PA individuals initially
One hundred thirty-eight undergraduates (54% female; mean age ! reported, the more they would experience improvements in broad-minded
20, SD ! 1.3; 71% Caucasian, 14% Asian American, 10% Hispanic, coping over time. By contrast, we expected that the same would not hold
5% African American) received credit in an introductory psychology for NA; that is, T1 NA would not predict changes in broad-minded coping.
course for participating in two sessions, conducted in small groups. At To test this hypothesis, we constructed a regression equation with
Time 1 (T1), participants provided consent and completed measures of T2 broad-minded coping as the dependent variable. First, T1 broad-
affect and coping. Five weeks later, at Time 2 (T2), they completed minded coping was entered, creating residual change scores. This, of
identical measures. course, also controlled for T1 broad-minded coping. Next, T1 PA and
T1 NA were entered simultaneously.
As hypothesized, PA, but not NA, led to enhanced broad-minded cop-
Measures ing. As shown in the top panel of Table 1, T1 PA was significantly re-
lated to changes in broad-minded coping from T1 to T2 (pr ! .19),
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) t(134) ! 2.25, p " .05, but T1 NA was not (pr ! #.08), t(134) !
The PANAS (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) includes two 10- #0.93, n.s.
item scales, one for PA and one for NA. Respondents indicated the ex-
tent to which they felt each feeling or emotion during the past 2 Does Broad-Minded Coping Predict Increased PA
weeks. Scores for PA and NA range from 10 to 50, with higher scores (but Not Reduced NA)?
indicating more PA and NA, respectively. Coefficient alpha for NA
was .85 at both T1 and T2; coefficient alpha for PA was .88 at T1 and Our second hypothesis was that T1 broad-minded coping would
.90 at T2. predict changes in PA from T1 to T2, such that the better individuals
coped initially, the more their PA would increase over time. By con-
trast, we expected that the same would not hold for NA; that is, broad-
Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) minded coping at T1 would not be associated with reductions in NA.
On the CRI (Moos, 1988), respondents pick “the most important To test this hypothesis, we constructed two regression equations.
problem” they faced during the past year, and indicate how often they For the first, T2 PA was the dependent variable, and T1 PA was en-
used various coping strategies to deal with it. The CRI yields eight tered first, creating residual change scores. For the second equation,
subscales: Cognitive Analysis, Positive Reframing, Seeking Alterna- T2 NA was the dependent variable, and T1 NA was entered first, cre-
tive Rewards, Problem-Solving, Emotional Discharge, Avoidance, Ac- ating residual change scores. For both equations, T1 broad-minded
ceptance/Resignation, and Seeking Counsel. We focused on Cognitive coping was entered as a predictor on the last step.
Analysis because its face validity suggests it assesses broadened cog- As shown in the middle and bottom panels of Table 1, our predictions
nition (e.g., “think of different ways to deal with the problem,” “try to were supported. Specifically, T1 broad-minded coping significantly pre-
step back from the situation and be more objective”). This subscale in- dicted increased PA (pr ! .32), t(135) ! 3.83, p " .05, but was not sig-
cludes six items and yields scores ranging from 0 to 24, with higher nificantly related to changes in NA (pr ! .07), t(135) ! 0.82, n.s.
scores indicating more broad-minded coping. Coefficient alpha for the
Cognitive Analysis subscale was .76 at T1 and .79 at T2. Do Other Coping Styles Relate Similarly to PA
To demonstrate construct validity for our use of this particular sub- (but Not NA)?
scale to index broad-minded coping, we turned to other data sets in
We repeated all the previous analyses with each of the other seven
which we could relate the eight CRI subscales to criterion measures of
subscales of the CRI. None displayed the same pattern of results as
broadened thinking or other constructs theoretically linked to the
did broad-minded coping. Most neither predicted nor were predicted
broadening associated with positive emotions. In one data set (N !
by PA. The two exceptions were Emotional Discharge and Seeking
124), we administered the CRI and also measured broadened thinking
Counsel, but neither was related to PA but not NA. Cognitive Analy-
with the Alternative Uses Test (AUT; based on Torrance, 1976) of cre-
sis, our measure of broad-minded coping, was the only subscale that
ativity (e.g., “think of as many different uses as you can for [a pen-
conformed to the predicted pattern for each link in the spiral.
cil]”). Among the eight CRI subscales, only Cognitive Analysis
correlated significantly with the AUT (r ! .29, p " .001). In another
data set (N ! 141), we administered the CRI and also measured inter- Do PA and Broad-Minded Coping Serially Influence
personal trust (Garner, Olmsted, & Polivy, 1983) and attributional op- Each Other?
timism (Metalsky, Joiner, Hardin, & Abramson, 1993). The broaden- Our third hypothesis was that T1 PA would predict T2 PA, partly as
and-build theory suggests that these are two personal resources that a function of predicting changes in broad-minded coping. Similarly,
positive emotions and broadened thinking build (Fredrickson, 2000).
Among the eight CRI subscales, Cognitive Analysis correlated most
strongly with each of these measures (r ! .63 and r ! .33, respec- 1. Because gender and age did not correlate with any variables, and did not
tively, p " .001). moderate any analyses, these variables are not discussed further.

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Positive Emotions Trigger Upward Spirals

Table 1. Time 1 variables predicting changes from Time 1 to Time 2

Order t for
of entry Predictors F for within-set Partial Model
of set in set set predictors df correlation R2
Dependent variable ! Time 2 broad-minded coping
1 Time 1 coping 71.48* 8.46* 1, 136 .59 .34
2 Main effects 2.99 2, 134 .24 .37
Time 1 PA 2.25* 134 .19
Time 1 NA #0.93 134 #.08
Dependent variable ! Time 2 PA
1 Time 1 PA 39.69* 6.30* 1, 136 .48 .23
2 Time 1 coping 14.65* 3.83* 1, 135 .32 .31
Dependent variable ! Time 2 NA
1 Time 1 NA 26.44* 5.14* 1, 136 .40 .16
2 Time 1 coping 0.66 0.82 1, 135 .07 .17
Note. Coping ! Cognitive Analysis subscale of the Coping Responses Inventory (Moos, 1988), our index
of broad-minded coping; PA ! Positive Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson,
Clark, & Tellegen, 1988); NA ! Negative Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.
*p " .05.

our fourth hypothesis was that T1 broad-minded coping would predict Step 4 determines whether complete or partial mediation has oc-
T2 broad-minded coping, partly as a function of predicting increased curred; complete mediation is indicated by the effect of the predictor
PA. In each case, supportive findings would suggest an upward spiral, on the outcome being completely removed when the mediator is con-
in which PA and broad-minded coping serially enhance one another. trolled. If Steps 1 through 3 are satisfied, but Step 4 is not, partial me-
To test these hypotheses, we used mediational analyses. Kenny, diation is indicated. In both cases, partial mediation was indicated.
Kashy, and Bolger (1998) described four steps to determine whether That is, T1 PA remained a significant predictor of T2 PA when
mediation occurs. Step 1 is to show a significant correlation between changes in broad-minded coping were controlled (pr ! .45), t(135) !
predictor and outcome (here, between T1 and T2 PA, and between T1 5.82, p " .05. Similarly, T1 broad-minded coping remained a signifi-
and T2 broad-minded coping). Table 1 shows that this step is satisfied. cant predictor of T2 broad-minded coping when changes in PA were
Step 2 is to show a significant correlation between the predictor and controlled (pr ! .54), t(135) ! 7.37, p " .05.
the mediator (here, between T1 PA and changes in broad-minded cop- Last, we calculated the indirect effect sizes of the predictors
ing, and between T1 broad-minded coping and changes in PA). As we through the mediators. The strength of the indirect effect of T1 PA on
have already discussed, this step is also satisfied (see Table 1). T2 PA through changes in broad-minded coping was .16, t(135) !
Steps 3 and 4 are accomplished with one regression analysis, with 3.28, p " .05. The strength of the indirect effect of T1 broad-minded
the outcome as dependent variable and with the mediator and predic- coping on T2 broad-minded coping through changes in PA was .13,
tor entered simultaneously as independent variables. Step 3 is to show t(134) ! 2.77, p " .05.
that the mediator affects the outcome, controlling for the predictor Taken together, this sequence of findings indicates that PA predicts
(i.e., changes in broad-minded coping relate to T2 PA, controlling for itself partly via broad-minded coping, and that broad-minded coping
T1 PA, and changes in PA relate to T2 broad-minded coping, control- predicts itself partly via PA. PA and broad-minded coping, then, mutu-
ling for T1 broad-minded coping). For this step, we created variables ally build on one another.
corresponding to changes in broad-minded coping (the residual of
T2 broad-minded coping regressed on T1 broad-minded coping) and
changes in PA (the residual of T2 PA regressed on T1 PA). Next, we DISCUSSION
computed two regression equations. In the first, with T2 PA as the de- Drawing from the broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson, 1998,
pendent variable, T1 PA and the variable reflecting changes in broad- 2001), we predicted that positive emotions trigger upward spirals to-
minded coping were entered simultaneously as predictors. Step 3 was ward enhanced emotional well-being. Data from two assessment
satisfied: Changes in broad-minded coping were associated with T2 waves supported our four hypotheses and demonstrated specificity to
PA, controlling for T1 PA (pr ! .20), t(135) ! 2.35, p " .05. In the PA and broad-minded coping. Taken as a whole, our results support
second equation, with T2 broad-minded coping as the dependent vari- the upward-spiral prediction: Positive emotions—through their effects
able, T1 broad-minded coping and the variable reflecting changes in on broadened thinking—predict future increases in positive emotions.
PA were entered simultaneously as predictors. Again Step 3 was satis- Contrast these findings to the downward spirals often associated
fied: Changes in PA were associated with T2 broad-minded coping, with depressed affect. Depressed affect and the narrowed, pessimistic
controlling for T1 broad-minded coping (pr ! .21), t(135) ! 2.44, thinking it engenders influence one another reciprocally, leading to
p " .05. ever-worsening negative emotions, and even clinical levels of depres-

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Barbara L. Fredrickson and Thomas Joiner

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