Negative Affect

Abstract

Definition Negative affect is classified under the classes of mood, emotion, and affect. It refers to the subjective experience of a group of negative emotional states such as anxiety, depression, stress, sadness, worry, guilt, shame, anger, and envy. Description Negative affect has been studied since the 1960s under the area of psychological well-being which is a key topic in quality of life research. It is regarded as one of the three interrelated components of a person’s subjective well-being which, in addition to objective functioning, contributes to the person’s quality of life (Diener, 2000). Life satisfaction and positive affect are the other two components of subjective well-being (Diener & Suh, 1997). Negative affect can be conceptualized in terms of frequency and intensity. Diener (2000) concluded from studies on subjective well-being that it is the frequency rather than intensity of affect that influences a per ...