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Age Differences in Goal Concordance, Time Use, and Well-Being
Yiwei Chen1, Yue-Ting Lee, Olivia L Pethtel
1Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.
Educational Gerontology
|May 14, 2013
Summary
Older adults maintain high well-being, similar to younger adults. They exhibit greater goal concordance and spend more time on spiritual activities, contributing to their sustained well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Well-being research
Background:
- Despite age-related challenges, older adults often report well-being comparable to younger adults, a phenomenon known as the 'Paradox of Well-Being'.
- Previous research indicates that life circumstances may decline with age, yet subjective well-being remains stable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age differences in goal concordance, time use, and overall well-being.
- To explore the 'Paradox of Well-Being' using a novel approach examining personal strivings and activity allocation.
- To analyze the interplay between goal concordance, time use, and well-being across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- 177 adults generated their top three personal strivings and rated goal concordance for various motivational reasons.
- Participants reported actual and ideal time allocation across 10 activity categories over 24 hours.
- Well-being was assessed using the Flourishing Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in overall well-being were found between older and younger adults.
- Older adults demonstrated higher levels of goal concordance compared to younger adults.
- Older adults dedicated more time to spirituality and religion-related activities than younger adults.
Conclusions:
- Age-related declines in circumstances do not necessarily translate to lower well-being.
- Higher goal concordance and engagement in spiritual activities may contribute to sustained well-being in older adults.
- Findings offer insights for interventions to enhance well-being across the lifespan.
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