Positivity effects in self-defining memories in men and women across adulthood: different patterns between self-rated affect and content-coded meaning

The positivity effect (PE) refers to older adults’ selective attention and memory to positive over negative information. Older adults often rate their personal memories more positively and less negatively than younger people. However, findings are mixed when memory content is analysed. This study examined the PE using self-report and content-coded measures in self-defining memories (SDMs) and the role of gender in moderating the PE. A representative sample (N = 1985; 18–92 years) reported three SDMs and rated positive and negative affect toward each memory on three occasions within the one-year interval. Each memory was coded for positive and negative meaning-making. Memory valence was also coded to determine positive and negative SDMs. Multilevel analyses showed that age predicted greater positive and lower negative affect. Mixed findings emerged when meaning-making was featured. Age predicted lower positive and lower negative meaning-making in negative SDMs. Gender moderated the PE. Women showed greater age-related negativity reduction than men in negative SDMs assessed by self-rated affect. While women presented greater negative meaning-making in negative SDMs than men, the gap converged in older age. These findings were controlled for mental health symptoms. Together, this study suggests that how SDMs are felt and narrated may be two distinct processes.