Evidence suggests that positive affect rises from youth through young and t
hen older adulthood, but may decline after one's mid-70s. Negative affect a
ppears to decrease steadily from early adulthood to older adulthood, but th
is decline may taper off in the oldest years. The relationship between age
and affect in adulthood is further complicated by the effects of moderators
, such as extraversion and marital status. Despite these complexities, rece
nt empirical studies and current theory have furthered the understanding of
age and affect in adulthood, although important questions remain.