Abstract

It is assumed that the higher one's levels of positive affect (PA) is and the lower one's levels of negative affect (NA) is, the higher one's subjective well-being (SWB) is. There are three traditional ways to integrate PA and NA levels: PA-NA, PA/NA and PA/(PA＋NA). The present paper pointed out problems of these traditional formulae and proposed classifying experience of PA and NA into certain types as an alternative. Based on the combination of the levels PA and NA, four types of experience of PA and NA were suggested. The present research examined the relationship between the types of PA-and-NA experience and psychological characteristics which were life satisfaction motivation, satisfaction with life, life satisfaction expectancy, depression, anxiety, anger, self-esteem and subjective happiness. Among psychological characteristics, satisfaction with life, depression, anxiety and self-esteem showed significant correlation coefficients with the types of PA-and-NA experience as was predicted in the traditional methods of incorporating PA and NA. However, the rest of the psychological characteristics showed the relations with the types of PA-and-NA experience, which were not predicted by the traditional methods of incorporating PA and NA. We discussed the implications of these results and the direction of further research. (Korean J Str Res 2008;16:343∼350)

• Keywords: Positive affect, Negative affect, Subjective well-being, Motivational states theory, Stress, Well-being