title: Self-regulation and eudaimonic well-being across adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The authors developed and tested a model to examine the developmental self-regulatory pathways that lead to optimal eudaimonic well-being across adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures of goal adjustment, optimization, possible selves, and well-being were obtained from 590 adults ranging in age from 17 to 94. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the whether there were age-differential pathways among the developmental self-regulatory processes and well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model predicts interactions among age, hoped-for possible selves, age-sensitive developmental processes (i.e., goal adjustment, optimization), and psychological well-being. Results showed direct effects of goal adjustment on well-being and indirect effects of goal adjustment and optimization on well-being through hoped-for possible selves. There were significant age differences in the indirect effects of goal adjustment on possible selves and well-being, such that, by age 55, these pathways disappear, and the role of future self-representations diminish.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that the role of possible selves in regulating self-motivated development changes across the adult life span.
authors: Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA. frazier@fiu.edu
authors: Leslie D
authors: LD
authors: Frazier
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Barreto
authors: Frederick L
authors: FL
authors: Newman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D055815:Young Adult