ارزیابی پشیمانی، سن و رفاه ذهنی

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.

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.

Employing a temporal focus on the past, present or future is of importance in personality psychology (e.g., Pervin, 1990). For example, it has been shown that individuals’ beliefs related to the attainment of current and future-oriented goals contribute to subjective well-being (review, Little, 1989). The results of this study suggest that it is not only individuals’ evaluations of their future goals but also their appraisals of the past in terms of regrets over unattained goals and events play a role in relation to their current well-being (see also, Lecci et al., 1994). The association between regret appraisals and subjective well-being persisted even when current goal appraisals and present negative affect were statistically controlled for. In other words, regrets appraisals seem to add predictive information to the assessment of well-being. In addition, differences in regret appraisals according to age suggest that age-related developmental regulation concerns not only individuals’ present and future aims (e.g., Brandtstädter & Renner, 1990) but also past choices and events.