Self-Regulation and Eudaimonic Well-Being Across Adulthood

Abstract

Background/Study Context: The authors developed and tested a model to examine the developmental self-regulatory pathways that lead to optimal eudaimonic well-being across adulthood.

Methods: Measures of goal adjustment, optimization, possible selves, and well-being were obtained from 590 adults ranging in age from 17 to 94. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the whether there were age-differential pathways among the developmental self-regulatory processes and well-being.

Results: The model predicts interactions among age, hoped-for possible selves, age-sensitive developmental processes (i.e., goal adjustment, optimization), and psychological well-being. Results showed direct effects of goal adjustment on well-being and indirect effects of goal adjustment and optimization on well-being through hoped-for possible selves. There were significant age differences in the indirect effects of goal adjustment on possible selves and well-being, such that, by age 55, these pathways disappear, and the role of future self-representations diminish.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that the role of possible selves in regulating self-motivated development changes across the adult life span.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging grant 1 R03 AG20784-01 awarded to Leslie D. Frazier.