Abstract
Savoring is the use of positive emotion regulation strategies to increase awareness, enjoyment, and appreciation of positive experiences. Savoring can encompass past (positive reminiscence), present (savoring the moment), or future (positive anticipation) positive experiences. According to socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults tend to prioritize emotional goals in the present moment. The current study examined whether the ability to savor the moment may be more strongly associated with measures of well-being in older adults compared to the ability to savor past or future experiences. Participants (n = 266, mean age = 73.4 years, 81% female, 74% White) completed a survey that measured past-, present-, and future-oriented savoring ability, happiness, depression, and resilience. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with past, present, and future savoring ability predicting psychological well-being (i.e., happiness, depression, or resilience). Higher levels of present-oriented savoring were significantly related to greater happiness, lower depression, and higher resilience, b = .65, β = .57, p < .001, b = -.23, β = -.45, p < .001, and b = .51, β = .43, p < .001, respectively. Past- and future-oriented savoring were not significant predictors after accounting for present-oriented savoring. These findings suggest that the ability to savor the moment contributes to greater psychological well-being in older adults. Interventions designed to enhance older adults’ savoring the moment may be more beneficial for enhancing psychological well-being than interventions focused on positive reminiscence or positive anticipation.