Experiential Diversity Theory of Adult Development and Aging in Daily Life

Present theories on adult development and aging offer insights into how aging is characterized by gains and losses across different domains (e.g., social, emotional, physical, and cognitive). Such gains and losses are related to changes in behaviors and experiences across various facets of daily life. However, much of the literature has focused on overall quantity of experiences rather than how such experiences are spread across different types. In this article, we propose that experiential diversity, conceptualized as rich and balanced experiences, is an important component of healthy and resilient aging. A conceptual framework demonstrates the theoretical underpinnings associating person-environment interactions with differences in experiential diversity and linking experiential diversity with aging-related outcomes. Experiential diversity is also discussed in the context of ontogenetic and sociohistorical change processes. Advances in empirical studies of experiential diversity across three representative domains of daily experiences (activities, stressors, and emotions) demonstrate how diversity of experiences declines with age. We further provide methodological (e.g., quantification, measurement, and timescales) and theoretical (e.g., moderators and cross-domain considerations) considerations for future studies on experiential diversity beyond the daily domains. Experiential diversity theory provides a theoretical leap, taking advantage of rich categorical data measured in studies of psychology and aging, and allowing for more nuanced consideration of the role of diverse experiences for healthy aging. Public Significance Statement The theoretical perspective, experiential diversity theory, provides an innovative approach for understanding the richness and balance inherent in diverse daily experiences within a person's life and its significance in the context of healthy aging. This perspective illuminates a positive mechanism for promoting healthy aging by emphasizing the value of engaging in a range of experiences on a daily basis, even in the face of age-related declines in exposure to novel stimuli. Notably, as experiential diversity may be a modifiable factor, it has the potential to contribute to population health and foster healthy aging.