Evidence of the age-related positivity bias in autobiographical memories of the 2020 United States Presidential election outcome

ABSTRACTThe current study examines the age-related positivity bias and the age-related positivity effect using a one-year longitudinal design with a sample that spans adulthood (N = 374; age range 19-90; Mage = 47.41; SDage = 16.75). Participants answered questions regarding their memories of learning about the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Results provide evidence for the positivity bias (i.e., a main effect of age) but no evidence of the positivity effect (i.e., an age x valence interaction). Increased age was associated with reporting feeling less negative at the time of the event, and also remembering feeling more positive (elated and happy) when reconstructing the event one year later. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between age and valence variables, indicating that depressive symptoms may partly explain the age-related positivity bias.