Does Leisure Time as a Stress Coping Resource Increase Affective Complexity? Applying the Dynamic Model of Affect (DMA)

Abstract

Affective complexity, a manifestation of psychological well-being, refers to the relative independence between positive and negative affect (PA, NA). According to the Dynamic Model of Affect (DMA), stressful situations lead to highly inverse PA-NA relationship, reducing affective complexity. Meanwhile, positive events can sustain affective complexity by restoring PA-NA independence. Leisure, a type of positive events, has been identified as a coping resource. This study used the DMA to assess whether leisure time helps restore affective complexity on stressful days. We found that on days with more leisure time than usual, an individual experienced less negative PA-NA relationship after daily stressful events. The finding demonstrates the value of leisure time as a coping resource and the DMA's contribution to coping research.

Keywords: The Dynamic Model of Affect (DMA); coping; daily stress; leisure time; within-person change.

FIGURE 1

THE WITHIN-PERSON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT WAS MORE NEGATIVE ON DAYS WITH HIGH (+1SD) DAILY STRESS FREQUENCY (SOLID LINE) THAN ON DAYS WITH LOW (−1SD) DAILY STRESS FREQUENCY (DOTTED LINE)

FIGURE 2

THE WITHIN-PERSON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT WAS LESS NEGATIVE ON DAYS WITH HIGH (+1SD) LEISURE TIME AVAILABILITY (SOLID LINE) THAN ON DAYS WITH LOW (−1SD) LEISURE TIME AVAILABILITY (DOTTED LINE)