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Published on: February 14, 2014
The dynamics of possible selves in old age
Jacqui Smith1, Alexandra M Freund
1Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. smith@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Summary
Older adults maintain dynamic future aspirations, with most adding new hopes and fears. Changes in these future selves, particularly regarding health, influence well-being and life satisfaction in later life.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Sociology
Background:
- Future-oriented motives are often presumed to diminish in old age.
- Understanding the role of future aspirations in later life is crucial for well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the stability and change in future-oriented motives (possible selves) in older adults.
- To examine the relationship between changes in possible selves and health and life satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of 206 participants (aged 70-100+) from the Berlin Aging Study over 4 years.
- Coding of hopes and fears for central domains (e.g., personal characteristics, health, social relationships) and motives (e.g., gain, maintenance, avoiding loss).
- Assessment of associations between stability/change in possible selves and changes in physical/functional health and life satisfaction.
Main Results:
- Domains of personal characteristics, health, and social relationships were prominent, often linked with gain motives.
- A majority of participants (72% hopes, 53% fears) added new domains over time, indicating dynamic future selves.
- Stability and change in health and identity-related possible selves correlated with health changes. Focusing on maintenance and adding few new hopes predicted declines in life satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Possible selves represent a dynamic system throughout old age, contrary to assumptions of decline.
- Individual differences in the evolution of future aspirations are linked to health trajectories and subjective well-being.
- The findings highlight the adaptive potential of maintaining and modifying future goals in later life.
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