Gallery Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 7th IPPA World Congress 2021

The influence of relationships on emotions in shared experiences (#212)

Brian Hill 1 , Patti Freeman 1 , Sarah Agate 1 , Neil Lundberg 1 , Trey Nattress 1 , Kinsie Robbins 1 , Kaylee Jorgensen 2 , Maddie Park 1
  1. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, US
  2. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, US

 

Background

Positive psychologists have verified the importance of positive relationships to wellbeing and flourishing (Algoe, 2019; Frederickson, 2013; Seligman, 2002).  We have worked to validate the role of experiences in building positive relationships and enhancing positive emotions.  After completing and reporting on one study testing emotions across ordinary, memorable, meaningful, and transformative experiences (Duerden, et. al., 2019; Hill, et. al., 2019), we saw that the relationships of study participants were likely a major factor in the emotions felt during shared experiences.

Research Question

What is the role of interpersonal relationships in the emotions felt during shared, structured experiences?

Sample

Study participants were made up of 25 American university students traveling together through 12 countries in Europe; the unit of analysis, however, was structured experiences with n=146 experiences.

Design

The travelers participated in eight experiences including castle visits, hikes, physical skills training, and outdoor adventures. Immediately after each experience, they completed a questionnaire measuring their feelings of relatedness to their traveling friends and the emotions they felt during their experience using the Positivity Self-Test (Frederickson, 2009). 

Results

We examined the data with mixed models, enabling the analysis of nontraditional, clustered data (Demidenko, 2013) and allowing the inclusion of fixed and random variables, a necessity when observing repeated human behaviors. After accounting for interaction effects, we found that the only variables predicting emotions felt by participants were the unique experiences themselves and the closeness participants felt with each other. In fact, a feeling of relatedness enhanced positive emotion (t=2.96, p<.01) and buffered negative emotion scores (t=-3.00, p < .01).

Scientific Contribution

Having demonstrated emotions are influenced by feelings of connection during structured experiences, our team will next pursue projects aimed at determining how experience design can improve feelings of connection leading to more positive emotion and greater wellbeing.  


 

  1. Algoe, S. B. (2019). Positive Interpersonal Processes. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28(2), 183–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419827272

  2. Demidenko, E. (2013). Mixed models: Theory and applications with R. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
  3. Duerden, M., Lundberg, N., Ward, P., Taniguchi, S., Hill, B., Widmer, M. & Zabriskie, R.. (2018). From ordinary to extraordinary: A framework of experience types. Journal of Leisure Research. 49. 196-216. 10.1080/00222216.2018.1528779.
  4. Fredrickson, B. (2009). Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to embrace the hidden strength of positive emotions, overcome negativity, and thrive. Crown Publishers/Random House.

  5. Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Love 2.0: Finding happiness and health in moments of connection. New York, New York: Hudson Street Press.
  6. Hill, B., Lundberg, N, Glazier, R., & Parks, M. (2019). Exploring experiences and emotions associated with transformative, meaningful, memorable, and ordinary experiences.” International Positive Psychologoy Association 2019 Congress, Melbourne, Australia
  7. Seligman, M. E. (2002). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York, New York: Free Press.

  • Keywords: Positive emotions, Relationships