Psychosocial outcomes in later life: a multivariate model

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Self-regulation is crucial for navigating developmental challenges.
• Understanding pathways to adult psychosocial well-being is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a conceptual model of developmental self-regulatory pathways to adult psychosocial outcomes.
• To examine the interplay of age, possible selves, developmental processes, and well-being.

Main Methods:

• Developed a conceptual model linking age, self-concept, developmental processes (coping, control), and well-being.
• Analyzed age effects and identified key predictors of well-being.

Main Results:

• Age influenced most constructs except selective control.
• Goal pursuit, goal adjustment, and optimization consistently predicted well-being.
• Developmental processes differentially mediated age effects on well-being, with defensive processes offsetting losses.

Conclusions:

• Aging can be an optimistic process where gains balance losses, preserving well-being.
• Effective self-regulation, particularly goal adjustment, is key to positive psychosocial outcomes in later life.
• Examining age, self, and developmental processes is vital for understanding psychosocial outcomes.