Understanding how age affects emotional well-being through everyday conversations
Official title: Decoding Age Differences in Emotional Well-being and Positivity through Everyday Natural Conversations
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-10837108 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people of different ages feel emotionally in their everyday conversations, to see if older adults tend to feel happier and more positive than younger adults, and it involves recording real-life chats to understand these feelings better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $80,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG078631-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10837108 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults who are willing to engage in natural conversations while wearing a recording device.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the age range of young to older adults or those who are unable to participate in conversations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how emotional well-being and positivity differ across various age groups by analyzing natural conversations in everyday settings. It aims to determine if older adults experience greater emotional well-being compared to younger adults and whether this can be observed outside of controlled environments. Participants will wear digital recording devices to capture their interactions, allowing researchers to assess real-world emotional responses and the appreciation of positive information. The study will include a diverse group of adults, spanning young, middle-aged, and older individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of emotional well-being across the lifespan, potentially leading to improved mental health strategies for different age groups.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing research on emotional well-being across age groups, this approach of using natural conversations in everyday settings is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shook, Natalie — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Shook, Natalie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.