Who Can Be Uplifted? Person-Level Predictors of Moral Elevation in Clinical and Nonclinical Samples

Abstract Elevation, a positive emotion characterized by feeling uplifted and motivated toward prosocial behavior when witnessing others’ acts of moral virtue (e.g., generosity or courage), has been theorized as an “emotional reset” fostering social wellbeing. However, little is known about individual differences that predict state elevation experiences in life beyond laboratory studies, and whether distress symptoms like depression and anxiety preclude elevation. This study examined person-level predictors of state elevation in daily life in (1) clinically anxious/depressed patients completing a week of diaries about their best event of the day (Study 1; N = 102; 465 records) and (2) a nonclinical sample randomly assigned to watch elevating vs. control videos over 7-12 days (Study 2; N = 198; 1,751 records). We hypothesized female gender, higher trait elevation, character strengths, and positive affect, as well as lower anxiety, depression, and negative affect, as predictors of daily state elevation. In multilevel models (MLMs), higher trait elevation and caring strengths predicted stronger state elevation in response to patients’ best events (Study 1) as hypothesized. In Study 2, trait elevation and trait positive affect predicted higher daily state elevation as expected, but no traits amplified effects of experimental inductions of state elevation over time. Additionally, distress symptom effects were mixed, but did not consistently prevent experiencing elevation in response to uplifting events. Thus, some traits may predispose individuals to elevation states, but clinical symptoms may not consistently preclude elevation experiences, suggesting implications for elevation interventions.