A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Regret appraisals, age, and subjective well-being
Authors: Jokisaari M
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Publication year: 2003
Journal: Journal of Research in Personality
Journal name in source: JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY
Journal acronym: J RES PERS
Volume: 37
Issue: 6
First page : 487
Last page: 503
Number of pages: 17
ISSN: 0092-6566
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(03)00033-3
This study examined whether regrets are associated with age and subjective well-being in a sample of 176 participants ranging in age 19 to 82 years. Participants were asked to name unattained goals or events which they currently regret, and appraise these along a number of dimensions such as changeableness and consequences. The results showed that those who appraised their regret-related goals or events as having an impact on their present lives, reported a lower level of life satisfaction and more physical symptoms than those who appraised their regrets as having less consequence. There were also age differences in the regret appraisals. The older adults evaluated their regret-related goals or events as being less likely to change than did the younger adults. Published by Elsevier Science (USA).