title: Coping with negative life events in old age: the role of tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the relationships between negative life events and tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA), two fundamental modes of self-regulation suggested by Brandtstädter, and their effects on mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  TGP/FGA, negative life events and depression were assessed in 670 elderly people living in the community. Hierarchical regressions were carried out to examine the effects of the two self-regulation modes and negative life events on depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings demonstrate the role of TGP and FGA in coping with negative life events. While both FGA and TGP were related to depression, FGA was found to have beneficial effects for the participants who had encountered negative life events. With age, people become less tenacious, but no conclusive relationship was found between flexibility and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the importance of both modes of coping for the mental health of older adults. In particular, the ability to adjust goals was shown to be critical as a way of preventing the development of depressive symptoms following negative life events.
authors: Department of Psychology, François Rabelais University, Tours, France. bailly@univ-tours.fr
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Bailly
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Joulain
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Hervé
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Alaphilippe
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health