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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
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Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
Published on: January 9, 2016
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Temporal discounting across adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kendra L Seaman1, Sade J Abiodun2, Zöe Fenn3
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Dallas.
Psychology and Aging
|February 3, 2022
Summary
Age does not significantly impact temporal discounting, the devaluation of future rewards. A meta-analysis of over 100,000 adults found no substantial age-related differences in how people value immediate versus delayed rewards.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Developmental theories propose varying links between age and temporal discounting.
- Previous research on adult age differences in temporal discounting yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the replicability of adult age differences in temporal discounting.
- To conduct a meta-analysis of studies examining age and intertemporal choice tasks.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search and meta-analysis of 37 cross-sectional studies (N=104,737).
- Analysis of 12 participant-level datasets.
- Exploratory analyses of potential moderators.
Main Results:
- No significant relation found between age and temporal discounting (r = -0.068).
- Little evidence of publication bias or p-hacking.
- No moderating effects found for research design, incentives, delay duration, or quantification methods.
Conclusions:
- Younger, middle-aged, and older adults exhibit similar preferences for immediate over delayed rewards.
- Results suggest age is not a major factor in temporal discounting across adulthood.
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