Savor‐Aging: The Art of Savoring Positive Emotions in Older Adulthood—A Randomized Controlled Trial
Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being
Published online on July 04, 2026
Abstract
["Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2026. ", "\nAbstract\nSavoring has been identified as a promising strategy to foster emotional and psychological well‐being and to reduce depression in elders. However, research on online savoring interventions for this population remains limited. This registered RCT aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 3‐week online intervention (six activities), Savor‐Aging, in promoting subjective and psychological well‐being and reducing depressive symptoms. Seventy‐six healthy older adults (M = 69.9, SD = 4.8) were randomly assigned to a savoring group or a positive emotion (PE) group. Life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, flourishing, and depression were assessed at baseline (T0), post‐intervention (T1), and 1‐month follow‐up (T2) to test psychological changes. Longitudinal quantitative data were analyzed using linear mixed‐effects models, whereas qualitative feedback was thematically analyzed. Significant overall time effects emerged for negative affect and depressive symptoms. Although most time × group interactions were not significant, the savoring condition showed more consistent improvements over time, including reductions in negative affect and depressive symptoms that were maintained at follow‐up. Significant time effects emerged for flourishing only in the savoring group immediately after the intervention. Participants described the savoring intervention as pleasant, engaging, and meaningful. Overall, Savor‐Aging appears to be a feasible and effective self‐help intervention to support emotional well‐being and reduce depression in older adults, offering an accessible approach to positive aging.\n"]