Life Regrets Research Articles

Perceived Accomplishment in Later Life: The Influence of Past Decisions Between Family and Work

Whereas previous studies have investigated life regrets, little attention has been paid to the important accomplishments older adults include in their autobiographic life narratives. Phenomenon such as the memory positivity effect suggest that accomplishments should be observed. We used a Health and Retirement Study 2017 Life History Mail Survey (N = 2,165) to examine the characteristics of participants over age 65 who reported accomplishments (max = 3), what was reported, and whether early-life decisions about balancing family and work are associated with the reports. Women, whites, and people with at least high school education and normal cognitive status were more likely to report accomplishments (67%). We categorized reports as family-related (39%), personal (19%), combined family/personal (25%) or other (16%). Multinominal logistic regression models revealed that participants who themselves favored family over work in early life or whose spouse decided for family, were more likely to report family-related accomplishments.

Death Attitudes as Possible Predictors of Death Preparedness across Lifespan among Nonclinical Populations in Nairobi County, Kenya.

Context:Death is an important part of lifespan development, yet it remains trivialized or feared across many cultures. The perpetuation of death as a taboo subject continues to negatively affect the society. Death anxiety inhibits death preparedness which could affect the quality of dying. The pool of unclaimed assets held by different organizations continues to increase, intestate deaths remain high, and post death conflicts continue to affect many families.Aims:This study intended to examine death attitudes as possible predictors of death preparedness and explore the rationale for various death attitudes across lifespan in Nairobi, Kenya.Methods:The study adopted the mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design combining cross-sectional and phenomenological designs. The study targeted young adults, middle-aged adults, and seniors with a sample of 335 participants selected using multistage, stratified, and extreme case sampling designs. Data were collected using the Death Attitude Profile-Revised and interview guides.Analysis:Data were analyzed using univariate and thematic analyses.Results:The findings indicated that negative death attitudes declined with increase in age, whereas positive death attitudes increased with increase in age. Some of the reasons for negative death attitudes included threatening dying process, unfulfilled life goals, fear of hell, unresolved past deaths, and families with young children among others. The reasons for positive death attitude included reuniting with deceased loved ones and peers, meeting the creator, and end to a prolonged miserable life and fulfilled past life.Conclusion:This study implies that mental health practitioners need to target younger adults with death education programs to promote death preparedness and quality dying. For the older adults, addressing life regrets, family conflicts, and past unresolved deaths would significantly improve the quality of dying.

Time may heal wounds: Aging and life regrets.

Psychological research on regret has focused mostly on the negative emotions associated with troubling past decisions. Because aging is associated with a preference for positive information in attention and memory, investigation into positive emotions elicited by regrets may provide insights into adult developmental changes in subjective experience. The present study investigated age differences in regret-related affect in a survey of adults (n = 629) aged 18-92 years. Positive and negative affect emerged as discrete dimensions of regret-related affect with age trajectories that benefit well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Restricting future time perspective reduces failure to act after a missed opportunity.

Inaction inertia occurs when missing an attractive opportunity (vs. not having been offered it) decreases the likelihood of acting on another similar opportunity. We experimentally manipulated future time perspective to reduce inaction inertia. Middle-aged and older adults from the Health and Retirement Study were randomly assigned to imagining restricted or expansive time left to live, or to no instructions. Across age, imagining a restricted future (vs. the other two instructions) reduced inaction inertia and future time perspective. Imagining living longer increased future time perspective among relatively younger participants. Consequences of restricted time perspective for decisions and life regrets are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationship between Decision Making Styles and Life Regrets among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Older adults have to take several decisions during their life. The older adults' distinctive manner and style of identifying and reacting to decision-making tasks is expected to yield some decision outcomes which may induce feeling of regret. Regret which is a hurting feeling in old age can ultimately impacts the individual’s well-being. Objective: Determine the relationship between decision making styles and life regrets among community dwelling older adults. Setting: outpatient clinics of Farouk hospital, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: 205 older adults. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: 1) Socio-demographic data structured interview schedule 2) Decision Making Questionnaire DMQ, and 3) Life Regrets Scale. Results: The present study findings showed that the study subjects showed different levels of life regrets which are significantly correlated with the manner they habitually approach and manage their decisions (decision making styles). Conclusion: Greater life regrets among the study subjects were associated with the usage of certain decision making styles such as instinctiveness and social resistance. Whereas, thoroughness, perfectionism and control styles are significantly related to lower life regrets among the study subjects. Recommendations: The gerontological nurses should assess the decision making skills and styles of the older adults. They should assume their role in helping older adults to learn new decision making styles in order to improve their decisions outcomes and prevent future regrets.

Self-compassion, chronic age-related stressors, and diurnal cortisol secretion in older adulthood.

Many older adults experience chronic age-related stressors (e.g., life regrets or health problems) that are difficult to control and can disturb cortisol regulation. Self-compassion may buffer adverse effects of these stressful experiences on diurnal cortisol secretion in older adulthood. To examine whether self-compassion could benefit older adults' cortisol secretion in the context of chronic and largely uncontrollable age-related stressors, 233 community-dwelling older adults reported their levels of self-compassion, age-related stressors (regret intensity, physical health problems, and functional disability), and relevant covariates. Diurnal cortisol was measured over 3days and the average area-under-the-curve and slope were calculated. Higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower daily cortisol levels among older adults who reported higher levels of regret intensity, physical health problems, or functional disability (βs < - .53, ps < .01), but not among their counterparts who reported lower levels of these age-related stressors (βs < .24, ps > .28). These results suggest that self-compassion may represent an important personal resource that could protect older adults from stress-related biological disturbances resulting from chronic and uncontrollable stressors.

Life-domain regret regarding procrastination (LDR-P): Scale validation in the United States and Israel

Life regrets over inactions were found to have a long-term negative effect on people’s lives. Procrastination can be considered as a type of inaction; however, life regret regarding procrastination has been only briefly studied. The present study examined the factorial structure of the life-domain regret regarding procrastination scale (LDR-P) in two cultures (the US and Israel). In addition, the associations of regret regarding procrastination with general and behavioral procrastination measures and its mean scores were compared between the two cultures. Findings indicated a four-factor structure (career & community, interpersonal relationships, personal development, self-enhancement) based on the presence of procrastination in different life-domains. Further findings revealed strong associations between regret regarding procrastination and the two other procrastination measures mainly for the US sample. Finally, a comparison of factors means between the US and Israeli samples indicated that Americans more than Israelis experience regret over procrastination in education, career planning, finance and community life-domains. These results suggest both that life-domain regret regarding procrastination is a multi-dimensional construct that can be measured in different cultures and detect some cross-cultural differences. It should be further studied to better understand if and how it affects peoples’ lives, and how it can be addressed.

Effects of Pride and Regret on Geriatric Depression: A Cross-Cultural Study With Mixed-Methods Approaches.

Pride and regret are self-conscious emotions that develop later in life and become a source of emotional struggle. This cross-cultural study examined the effect of the content and intensity of self-conscious emotions on Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores. Among a convenience sample of 234 older adults (130 in the United States and 104 in South Korea), the contents and intensities of both life regrets and pride were examined. Although a greater variety of regrets was cited by Americans, overall Korean respondents reported higher intensity of regret. Regrets that were related to leisure and addiction among Americans and health and career among Koreans were predictors of the GDS scores. Pride in leisure activities for Americans and altruism among Koreans could alleviate depression. While regrets and pride explained a small amount of the variance in the GDS scores, current life stressors greatly contributed to geriatric depression.

What Makes for the Most Intense Regrets? Comparing the Effects of Several Theoretical Predictors of Regret Intensity.

Several theories have been proposed to account for variation in the intensity of life regrets. Variables hypothesized to affect the intensity of regret include: whether the regretted decision was an action or an inaction, the degree to which the decision was justified, and the life domain of the regret. No previous study has compared the effects of these key predictors in a single model in order to identify which are most strongly associated with the intensity of life regret. In this study, respondents (N = 500) to a postal survey answered questions concerning the nature of their greatest life regret. A Bayesian regression analysis suggested that regret intensity was greater for—in order of importance—decisions that breached participants’ personal life rules, decisions in social life domains than non-social domains, and decisions that lacked an explicit justification. Although regrets of inaction were more frequent than regrets of action, regrets relating to actions were slightly more intense.

The Value of Adaptive Regret Management in Retirement

This 3-year longitudinal study examined the associations between regret management, everyday activities, and retirement satisfaction among recent retirees. We hypothesized that the regulation of a severe life regret can facilitate activity engagement and retirement satisfaction, but only if retirees manage their regrets adaptively by either increasing effort and commitment when possessing favorable opportunities or disengaging when opportunity is unfavorable. Cross-sectional analyses demonstrated that the highest baseline levels of activity (e.g., volunteering, traveling) and retirement satisfaction were observed among participants who perceived favorable opportunities for addressing their life regrets and had high levels of engagement. Longitudinal analyses showed that this pattern was also associated with increases in activity engagement. In contrast, disengagement protected individuals with unfavorable opportunity from 3-year declines in retirement satisfaction. These findings indicate that adaptive regulation of regrets can both contribute to gains and prevent losses in the early stages of retirement, which may have lasting consequences on retirees' quality of life.

Women’s Regrets About Their Lives: Cohort Differences in Correlates and Contents

In this paper we test hypotheses about the importance of life stage in moderating the relationship between acknowledging regrets and concurrent well-being, as well as how changes in women’s social roles during the post-war period affected the content of the regrets they develop. We examine the relationship between women’s life regrets and life satisfaction, and the content of life regrets, using data from 313 predominately white, college-educated women who graduated from the same university in the United States in 1951/2 (age 66), 1972 (age 46) and 1992 (age 26). Analyses revealed that the more types of regrets middle-aged and older women reported (the 1972 and 1951/2 cohorts respectively), the lower their life satisfaction; this pattern did not hold for the youngest women. In terms of the specific content of regrets, exact logistic regressions showed that women in the oldest cohort reported more regrets about prioritizing family over career compared with the later cohorts. Overall, few women reported regrets about prioritizing their careers over families; however, women in the middle cohort were most likely to report these regrets. Results are discussed in terms of both developmental and socio-historical frameworks.

Life Regrets and the Need to Belong

The present research documents a link between regret and the need to belong. Across five studies, using diverse methods and samples, the authors established that regrets involving primarily social relationships (e.g., romance and family) are felt more intensely than less socially based regrets (e.g., work and education). The authors ruled out alternative explanations for this pattern and found that it is best explained by the extent to which regrets are judged to constitute threats to belonging. Threats to belonging at the regret level and the need to belong at the individual level were strong predictors of regret intensity across multiple regret domains. These findings highlight the central role social connectedness plays in what people regret most.

Relationship of life regrets to subjective well-being in single women in their 30s

본 연구에서는 30대 미혼여성들을 중심으로, 이들이 현재 삶에서 가장 후회하는 것은 무엇이고, 이러한 삶의 후회 경험이 주관적 안녕과 관련이 있는지를 알아보았다. 또한 35세 전․후로 연령을 구분하여, 연령에 따라 목표 재설정과 같은 후회 조절 변수가 30대 미혼여성들의 주관적 안녕에 어떤 역할을 하는지를 살펴보았다. 연구결과에 따르면, 미혼여성들이 현재 가장 후회를 많이 하는 삶의 영역은 교육, 직업, 결혼/연애, 자기계발, 가족 순으로 나타났다. 그리고 삶의 후회 경험(예, 강도, 빈도, 삶에 대한 전반적 후회)에 따라 이를 설명하는 후회의 인지적, 정서적 평가 요인이 달리 나타났다. 인구통계학적 변인과 후회 경험이 주관적 안녕에 미치는 영향을 보면, 교육 정도가 삶의 만족도와 긍정 정서, 부정 정서를 유의하게 설명하는 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 삶에 대한 전반적 후회가 적을수록 삶의 만족도와 긍정 정서가 높고 부정 정서가 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 후회 조절 변수가 주관적 안녕에 미치는 영향에서는 긍정 정서에서 연령과 목표 재설정간의 상호작용이 나타났다. 마지막으로 본 연구결과를 기존 연구결과들과 비교하면서 시사점을 논하였다.

Life regrets and pride among low-income older adults: Relationships with depressive symptoms, current life stressors and coping resources

We examined the contents and intensities of both life regrets and pride among a convenience sample of 213 low-income older adults and the associations between the contents and intensities of life regrets and pride, on the one hand, and the older adults’ current life stressors, coping resources and depressive symptoms, on the other. Regrets about education, career and marriage were common, but intensities of regrets were higher for issues related to finance/money, family conflict and children's problems, loss and grief, and health. Common sources of pride were related to children and parenting, career, volunteering/informal caregiving, long/strong marriage and personal growth/self. Controlling for current life stressors of disability, money worries, loneliness and overdependence on others for management of daily life, and coping resources of social support and religiosity, the intensities of loss-and-grief related regrets and the pride in long/strong marriage were significant predictors of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores. However, the regrets and pride explained a small amount of the variance in the GDS scores, while the current life stressors explained a large portion of the variance.

Life Regrets by Avoidant and Arousal Procrastinators

The present study examined the relationship between two types of chronic procrastination and 12 varied life domains in which individuals report regret. Subjects were 2,887 adults (1,776 women and 1,111 men; M age = 38.63 years; SD = 14.35) from across the United States. Initially, pure arousal (n = 386), avoidant (n = 220), and nonprocrastinators (n = 215) were identified. Results found that nonprocrastinators reported significantly less regret than both avoidant and arousal procrastinators in domains of education pursuits, parenting, family and friend interactions, health and wellness, and financial planning. There were no significant differences in feelings of regret between chronic procrastinators and nonprocrastinators in romance, career planning, and spiritual and self-improvements. Further research should explore the specific causes and consequences of regret among chronic procrastinators.

When experienced regret refuses to fade: Regrets of action and attempting to forget open life regrets

The emotional experience of regret often persists rather then fading over time. The present experiment with 101 student participants investigated whether recollecting life regrets of action, construing life regrets as psychologically open, or attempting to forget versus remember regret-related thoughts interfered with the fading of affect over a two-week interval. Results showed that regrets of action failed to show a fading affect pattern. In addition, disappointment failed to fade for regrets of inaction construed as open. Experienced regret failed to fade for regrets construed as open followed by attempts to forget regret-related thoughts. Intrusive and avoidant thoughts co-occurred with the latter disruptions in fading affect. Discussion concerns the causal relationship of memory and fading affect, and the different processes underlying fading of affect for discrete emotions.

The intensity of recent and distant life regrets: an integrated model and a large scale survey

AbstractThe research considers three predictors of the intensity of life regrets: (a) whether the regretted behaviour is an action or a failure to act, (b) the severity of its consequences and (c) the extent to which the behaviour was justified. It is hypothesised that the intensity of recent and distant regrets will be predicted by different combinations of these predictors. Regression analyses on regrets reported by 957 French adults support this hypothesis. The intensity of recent regrets is predicted by the consequences of the behaviour, and especially so for actions. The intensity of distant regrets is predicted by the consequences of the behaviour and by its justification, the effect of justification being stronger for actions than for inactions. These results are discussed in relation to both laboratory and field studies of regret. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Regret intensity, diurnal cortisol secretion, and physical health in older individuals: Evidence for directional effects and protective factors.

Two studies were conducted to examine the associations between life regrets and health-relevant variables among older adults. Study 1 explored whether intense experiences of regret would be associated with a health-relevant biological process (i.e., diurnal cortisol secretion) and acute physical problems (N = 183). In Study 2, a group of 103 older adults was followed over a period of 3 months, and changes in cold symptoms and sleep problems were examined. Study 2 incorporated an experimental manipulation, targeted at engaging participants in adaptive social- cognitive processes through writing. The results of Study 1 showed intense life regrets to be associated with a larger volume and a steeper morning rise of cortisol secretion and with higher levels of acute physical symptoms. Study 2 demonstrated that levels of regret intensity generally declined only in the experimental group, whereas certain aspects of regret intensity remained stable in the control group. In addition, the intervention evidenced a beneficial effect on the association between initial regret intensity and increased sleep problems over time.

Self-Regulation of Common Age-Related Challenges: Benefits for Older Adults’ Psychological and Physical Health

This article addresses the role played by adaptive self-regulation in protecting older adults' psychological and physical health. A theoretical model is outlined illustrating how common age-related challenges (i.e., physical challenges and life regrets) can influence older adults' health. In addition, the proposed model suggests that older adults can avoid the adverse health effects of encountering these problems if they engage in adaptive self-regulation. Finally, this article reviews recent studies that examined the adaptive value of self-regulation processes for managing physical challenges and life regrets in the elderly. The findings from cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies document the importance of adaptive self-regulation for maintaining older adults' health.

Regret and quality of life across the adult life span: The influence of disengagement and available future goals.

Two studies examined the associations between life regrets and indicators of quality of life across the adult life span. Given that opportunities to undo regrets decline with age, regret intensity was expected to be inversely associated with subjective well-being and health among older adults. In addition, the research explored protective factors that have the potential to reduce older adults' regret intensity. It was suggested that being disengaged from undoing the consequences of regrets and having many future goals available may reduce older adults' intensity of regret and thereby contribute to a better quality of life. Across both studies, the findings demonstrate that older adults perceived reduced opportunities to undo the consequences of their regrets and that regret intensity predicted a reduced quality of life only among older adults. Furthermore, the findings support the adaptive value of disengagement and available future goals for managing life regrets in older adults.