Effects of Intensive Mobile Happiness Reporting in Daily Life

Abstract

Does intensive focus on happiness change the naturalistic experience of happiness over time? In a 2-week text-messaging experiment, young adult participants ( n = 162) reported their current happiness 1, 3, or 6 times daily. Examination of temporal changes in momentary happiness over time showed no group differences, suggesting little evidence for reactivity overall. However, the effects were moderated by current depressive symptoms and neuroticism and to a lesser extent by self-esteem (trend only) and not by trait happiness. Individuals higher in depressive symptoms or neuroticism showed decreased momentary happiness over time with more frequent reporting, whereas individuals lower in depressive symptoms or neuroticism showed the opposite pattern with increased momentary happiness over time with more frequent reporting. Effects for self-esteem were similar but did not reach statistical significance. Findings suggest that intensive happiness reporting through mobile technology may be aversive or beneficial depending upon the negative emotional disposition of individuals.