Abstract

How do daily life events impact the affective and cognitive components of well-being (WB)? Results from cross-sectional (Ns = 129 and 64) and longitudinal (N = 129) studies suggest that there is a parsimonious answer to this question. Life events are closely related to mood states, mood states are closely related to cognitive WB, and mood states appear to serve as the nexus through which changing life circumstances affect cognitive WB. These results are consistent with a mood-mediation model, which assumes that mood states perform several functions for the individual. As a reactive index, mood states provide a hedonic summary of recent life experiences. As a prospective index, mood states inform the individual about one's progress and prospects in important life domains. Together, the results indicate that affective experiences play a central role in linking daily life to cognitive representations of well-being.