Perceived changes in well-being: the role of chronological age, target age, and type of measure.
The goal of this study is to investigate whether perceived changes in one's well-being from the present to the future are related to chronological age, target age, and type of measure (psychological well-being versus life satisfaction). Young adults (N=114) rated their current well-being and their future well-being at one of three target ages (30, 50, or 70 years old) and middle-aged adults (N=51) rated their current well-being and future well-being at the target age of 70 years old. Future self-enhancement effects were observed on both measures of well-being for young adults and on life satisfaction for middle-aged adults. Future self-enhancement effects were greater for life satisfaction than for psychological well-being. One-way MANOVAs showed that there were chronological age differences but not target age differences in the magnitude of future self-enhancement effects for well-being. Future self-enhancement effects were larger for young adults than for middle-aged adults.
Okun
Morris A
MA
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85277-1104, USA. dr.morris@asu.edu
Dittburner
Julie L
JL
Huff
Barbara P
BP
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology