Life-span Theory Research Articles

When and how perceived control buffers against cognitive declines: A moderated mediation analysis.

Although perceived control is a well-established predictor of cognitive aging, less is known about how and under what developmental circumstances these beliefs about personal influence may protect against cognitive declines. Our study examined light physical activity (LPA) as an unexplored mechanism that may link changes in two facets of perceived control (personal mastery, perceived constraints) to longitudinal trajectories of cognitive functioning. We also examined whether mediated pathways were moderated by age (i.e., differed across the adult lifespan). We analyzed two-wave, 9-year data from the national Midlife in the United States Study (n = 2,456; Mage = 56 years, range = 30-84; 56% female) using autoregressive mediation and moderated mediation models. Mediation models showed that changes in personal mastery and perceived constraints predicted episodic memory and executive functioning via self-reported change in LPA. Only the mediated effects of constraints remained significant in a model that included both mastery and constraints as predictors. Moderated mediation models showed that, for episodic memory, the mediated pathways were strongest in old age and emerged only for constraints: For older but not younger adults, declines in constraints were associated with less decline in episodic memory, as mediated by increases in LPA. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses that controlled for levels and change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Findings inform lifespan theories of control and provide initial evidence that change in a largely overlooked health behavior (LPA) may underlie the link between perceived constraints and cognitive functioning, with this pathway becoming more pronounced in late life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Positioning adolescence in the developmental timeline.

Adolescence, the second decade of life, bridges childhood and adulthood, but also represents a host of unique experiences that impact health and well-being. Lifespan theories often emphasize the continuity of individual characteristics and their contexts from childhood to adolescence, underscoring the distal influence of childhood experiences. Yet, adolescence is marked by transitions that may provoke discontinuities, particularly within individuals, their contexts, and their interactions within those contexts. These discontinuities occur at varied times, orders, and intensities for individualyouth, suggesting that adolescence may be a developmental turning point where earlier life experiences may be mediated, reversed, or transformed by proximal events. This perspective piece emphasizes the importance of considering transitions, discontinuities, and developmental turning points in adolescence as well as their potential to explain heterogeneity in adolescent and adult outcomes. We explore one biological and one contextual transition in adolescence and highlight innovative theories and methods for investigating continuity and discontinuity dynamics across development, which could lead to new insights related to the adolescent period and its importance in shaping future life trajectories.

Analysis of Teacher Career Selection and Development at the Bandung University Foundation Based on Life Span Theory, Super Theory (Crisis and Transition in Adult Careers)

Career guidance is an effort to prepare individuals to understand and adapt to the conditions of the job market (Fitria et al., 2020). Super life span theory, which Donald Super coined, is better known as the super theory. This theory is a theory that discusses in-depth individual career development. An individual is declared mature in a career if he or she has been able to successfully pass each stage of career development (González, A., 2008). Most adults choose to stop working and are not comfortable with their work, and their work they do not get self-satisfaction with what they do. This illustrates the very minimal knowledge that graduates currently have about jobs and job information that suits them. This research aims to discover how teachers' careers develop and adapt at the Bandung Education Foundation. The research method used in this research is a qualitative descriptive method, with data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, and documentation studies. The subject of this research is one of the teaching staff at the Bandung Education Foundation. The research results show that the subject has been able to adapt and carry out his career development well in accordance with the theory of career selection and development according to the Life Span theory and super Theory (crisis and transition in adult careers).

Analyzing Student Career Development at State Middle School 35 Medan Based on Life Span Theory, Super Theory

The research was conducted to analyze and determine the career development of students at SMP Negeri 35 Medan based on the Life Span Theory and super Theory. Here, the research subjects were 30 students at SMP Negeri 35 Medan. This research uses primary data sources, which are obtained directly by researchers. This research uses a questionnaire method, so the data source is students at SMP Negeri 35 Medan. Data is analyzed quantitatively, which is systematic scientific research on parts and phenomena and the causality of their relationships. Quantitative research aims to develop and use mathematical models, theories, and/or hypotheses related to a phenomenon. From the results of the research that has been carried out, it is clear that the students who are the research subjects can be seen from the results of the questionnaire answers given to this question. In the twelfth question, whether you are confident and easily mix with others. There were 33.3% who answered Yes and 66.7% answered No. A problem found among students was a lack of self-confidence. This is related to self-concept with the theory of career selection and development according to the Life Span Theory and super Theory regarding (child and adolescent development). So that self-concept is a part and description of the whole self, it can be concluded that a lack of self-confidence can affect an individual's self-concept later.

INTRAINDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY ACROSS ADULTHOOD: DIVERSITY, VARIETY, AND ADHERENCE AS KEY INDICATORS OF DAILY LIFE

Abstract Alongside long-term change, lifespan theories highlight the importance of examining intraindividual variability (the fluctuations that occur in daily and momentary life) as an indicator of dynamic characteristics, like plasticity or rigidity. The present symposium demonstrates five unique characterizations and implications of variability in daily life across the adult lifespan. Paper 1 demonstrates that greater social activity variety is linked to lower mortality risk over 11 years, and this effect is stronger for older adults. Paper 2 finds that consistent adherence to health behaviors in daily life is linked to better cognitive function in midlife adults. Paper 3 finds that middle-aged adults experience greater diversity in types of positive events in daily life (positive event diversity) compared to older adults, and positive event diversity is associated with higher positive affect. Paper 4 establishes that positive affect with high mean levels and high variability (fragile high positive affect) is associated with greater odds of depression 10 years later. Lastly, Paper 5 demonstrates that although the spread of stressor types experienced in daily life (stressor diversity) declines with age across both cohorts, the types of stressors experienced in modern life differ from those experienced 18 years prior. Together, findings demonstrate how variability in daily life changes across age and has implications for health and well-being of older adults. Dr. Susan Charles will critically discuss these contributions to our understanding of aging in the context of Strength and Vulnerability Integration Theory and provide considerations for understanding the complexity of daily life across the lifespan.

Are generations a useful concept?

The concepts of generations and generational differences have received much attention in the academic literature, in the popular press, and among practitioners, policymakers, and politicians. Despite the continued interest, research has failed to find convincing evidence for the existence of distinct generations, commonly conceptualized as broad groupings of birth cohorts (e.g., 1980–2000) that have been influenced by a set of significant events (e.g., economic depressions) and labeled with names and qualities that supposedly reflect their defining characteristics (e.g., Millennials). Further, any differences that have been found in empirical studies, and that have been attributed to generational membership, are more likely due to age and/or contemporaneous period effects. Nonetheless, some researchers, employers, institutions, governments, and many laypeople continue to treat generations like they are a powerful and actionable phenomenon.We address these issues in two ways. First, we review the science of generations, focusing on what is known, what is not, and why the evidence points to the conclusion that generations, as popularly conceptualized, do not exist in objectively quantifiable ways. We also address the disconnect between science and practice regarding generations. Second, we explore alternate explanations for effects that are attributed to generations and review approaches that are both more theoretically sound and empirically supported, including lifespan theory and social constructionist frameworks. Finally, we address connections between assumptions made about generations and concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion at work. Specifically, we address what has been termed generationalism, the belief that members of specific generations possess unique, stereotypic characteristics.

The effect of age on emotion regulation patterns in daily life: Findings from an experience sampling study.

The present experience sampling study investigated the effect of age on emotion regulation patterns (i.e., emotion regulation strategy effectiveness, variability, and differentiation) in daily life. The study further explored the implications of potential age differences in emotion regulation patterns for well-being. A sample of 406 adults (age range: 18-81, 62.8% female) were prompted five times a day for seven days to rate momentary emotions, emotion regulation strategy use, and emotion regulation strategy effectiveness. Based on these ratings, indicators of emotion regulation variability and differentiation were calculated. Well-being outcomes included daily positive and negative emotions, and symptoms of depression and anxiety assessed at baseline. The findings revealed reduced emotion regulation variability with age and a negative association between emotion regulation variability and well-being. There were no associations between age and emotion regulation effectiveness or differentiation. Emotion regulation effectiveness was associated with more positive and less negative daily emotions, and these associations were stronger for younger adults compared to older adults. Drawing on prominent lifespan theories, the findings may indicate that as people age, they select and apply a few strategies that they know will be effective given the context and their resources which leads to reduced emotion regulation variability but ultimately more well-being. Concerning emotion regulation effectiveness, the findings suggest that effectiveness is less important for emotional well-being in daily life in older adulthood possibly because well-being is determined by other factors (e.g., less frequent and more predictable stressors) with age.

The Influence of Early Life Experiences on Later Life Behaviors: An Examination of the Life of Walt Disney

In this paper we tell the story of Walt Disney, synthesizing the concepts of critical biography with those of life-span theory (LST) from sociology and psychology literature. In this manner, we can better understand how events in one’s life can have a significant impact throughout that person’s life. The paper focuses on four themes: (a) work ethic and pursuit of success, (b) perseverance – bounce back from adversity and keep moving forward, (c) alliance with others who complement one’s own strengths and offset one’s weaknesses, and (d) commitment to excellence. Through these themes, we demonstrate how early life experiences influenced Walt Disney’s behavior throughout his life. Table 1 is provided to outline the key events in the life of Walt Disney, cross-referencing the events as reported within the major Walt Disney biographies.

Investigating determinants of middle-aged and elderly users' video-creating intention on short-video platforms from a lifespan development perspective

PurposeMiddle-aged and elderly users become an important group on short-video platforms, however, the research on determinants of their video-creating intention is limited. Based on lifespan development theories, this study examines the impact of aging experiences on their video-creating intention, considering internal generative motivations as mediators and age as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachTo test this study’s hypotheses, survey data from 321 Chinese middle-aged and elderly short-video users were collected and partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to analyze these data.FindingsMiddle-aged and elderly users' aging experiences of social loss and personal growth are positively related to their video-creating intention. Aging experiences (i.e. physical loss, social loss, and personal growth) are positively related to internal generative motivations (i.e. need to be needed and symbolic immortality), and need to be needed is positively related to video-creating intention. Via the mediation of need to be needed, physical loss and personal growth are indirectly positively related to video-creating intention. Personal growth strengthens the relationship between physical loss and symbolic immortality, but weakens the associations of social loss with need to be needed and symbolic immortality. Age weakens the relationship between symbolic immortality and video-creating intention.Originality/valueThis study is the first wave to introduce and integrate lifespan theories such as selective optimization with compensation model, socioemotional selectivity theory, and generativity theory to explore the impacts of aging experiences on middle-aged and elderly users' video-creating intention by considering generativity motivations as mediators and age as a moderator.

Concerns, Career Decisions, and Role Changes: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Autonomous Vehicles in the Trucking Industry

Abstract The increasing adoption of automation will likely replace the tasks performed in many jobs, resulting in new challenges for workers. Yet, little is known regarding how workers perceive automation, including how it may influence their job attitudes and turnover intentions. Automated vehicles (AVs) are one example of new technology poised to alter the job of truck driving, which is overwhelmingly populated by older workers. In this study, we examined truck drivers’, supervisors’, and managers’ attitudes and concerns about AV adoption and its effects on driving jobs to help the transportation industry prepare for automation with minimal workforce disruption. We drew from theorizing on self-interest in economics and lifespan coping theories to contextualize workers’ reactions to automation. We conducted focus groups and interviews with truck drivers (N = 18), supervisors of drivers (N = 8), and upper-level managers of trucking companies (N = 25). Two themes emerged from the thematic analysis: the unknown, and proficiency. AVs may be viewed as threatening by drivers, causing anxiety due to widespread uncertainty and the fear of job loss and loss of control. At the same time, there will be a greater need for drivers to be adaptable for the era of AVs. AVs are also likely to result in other changes to the role of driving, which may have implications for driver recruitment and selection. We interpret our findings together with lifespan theories of control and coping and provide recommendations for organizations to effectively prepare for automation in the trucking industry.

The need to change: Is there a critical role of midlife adaptation in mental health later in life?

Although late-life depression (LLD) is a serious health problem and more common than dementia in people over 60, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The cognitive-emotional etiology of LLD is particularly poorly understood. This is in contrast to the now extensive literature from psychology and cognitive neuroscience on the characteristics of emotionally healthy aging. This research consistently shows a change in emotional processing in older adults that is modulated by prefrontal regulation. Lifespan theories explain this change in terms of neurocognitive adaptation to limited opportunities and resources that typically occur in the second half of life. Epidemiological data on an increase in well-being after a low point around age 50 suggest that the majority of people seem quite capable of making this adaptation, even though empirical evidence for a causal modulation of this so called 'paradox of aging' and for the role of the midlife dip is still lacking. Intriguingly, LLD is associated with deficits in emotional, cognitive, and prefrontal functions similar to those shown to be crucial for healthy adaptation. Suspected causes of these deficits, such as white matter lesions or affective instability, become apparent as early as midlife when internal and external changes as well as daily challenges set in. Based on these findings, we propose that some individuals who develop depression at older ages may not have been able to successfully implement self-regulatory adaptation at midlife. Here, we review the current evidence and theories on successful aging, the neurobiology of LLD, and well-being across the lifespan. Drawing on recent advances in lifespan theories, emotion regulation research, and cognitive neuroscience, we propose a model of successful versus unsuccessful adaptation that emphasizes the increasing need for implicit habitual control and resource-based regulatory choice during midlife.

Antecedents and Consequences of Sustainable Career: A Conceptual Model

In this era of fast-changing workplace, sustainable career has emerged as a contested domain both for employees and the organizations. Currently, there is scant scholarship on the parsimonious model of sustainable career development, addressing antecedents and consequences of the issue. To fill this research gap, the study proposes a model of sustainable career by utilizing the theoretical discourse of conservation of resources theory and life-span theory. The conceptual exposition emphasizes on investigating sustainable HRM (S-HRM) practices as an antecedent of sustainable career and the impact of (S-HRM) on employee well-being through mediating mechanism of sustainable career. Further, the study highlights the considerable significance of career stage as a moderator between (S-HRM) practices and sustainable career as individuals on different career stages have multiple perceptions regarding sustainability of their careers. The study offers new insights into the scholarship of sustainable career and proffered to empirically test the model in future.

Theories of Sustainable Finance

This paper attempts to formulate new theories of sustainable finance, meeting a need to establish a set of propositions that can help us understand the behaviour and actions of economic agents towards sustainable finance. The paper used a literature survey to establish a theoretical relationship between sustainable finance and the actions of economic agents. The paper proposed six theories of sustainable finance, namely, the priority theory of sustainable finance, the resource theory of sustainable finance, the peer emulation theory of sustainable finance, the life span theory of sustainable finance, the positive signalling theory of sustainable finance, and the system disruption theory of sustainable finance. These theories offer believable explanations for the behaviour and actions of economic agents towards sustainable finance. Academics, policy makers, economists, researchers and students will find these theories very useful in their work in sustainable finance.

Age Differences in Motivated Cognition: AMeta-Analysis.

The goal of this preregistered study was to synthesize empirical findings on age differences in motivated cognition using a meta-analytic approach, with a focus on the domains of cognitive control and episodic memory. A systematic search of articles published before July 2022 yielded 27 studies of cognitive control (N = 1,908) and 73 studies of memory (N = 5,837). Studies had to include healthy younger and older adults, a within-subjects or between-subjects comparison of motivation (high vs low), and a measure of cognitive control or memory. The Age × Motivation effect size was meta-analyzed using random-effects models, and moderators were examined using meta-regressions and subgroup analyses. Overall, the Age × Motivation interaction was not significant in either cognitive domain, but the effect sizes in both domains were significantly heterogeneous, indicating a possible role of moderating factors in accounting for effect size differences. Moderator analyses revealed significant moderation by incentive type for episodic memory, but not for cognitive control. Older adults' memory was more sensitive to socioemotional rewards, whereas younger adults' memory was more sensitive to financial gains. Findings are discussed with reference to the dopamine hypothesis of cognitive aging and to life-span theories of motivational orientation. None of these theories is fully supported by the meta-analysis findings, highlighting the need for an integration of neurobiological, cognitive process, and life-span-motivational perspectives.

WORKPLACE SUPPORT AND WELL-BEING AMONG WORKING PARENTS

Background and Purpose: Workplace support is vital in ensuring positive psychological well-being of working parents. The balancing act between work and family may affect the well-being of working parents due to strenuous responsibilities. Hence, this study intends to examine the relationship between workplace support and the well-being of working parents.
 
 Methodology: The study employs a cross-sectional survey where 146 working parents were recruited. A multiple regression analysis was employed.
 
 Findings: Current study found workplace support was a significant predictor of working parents’ well-being (F(1, 134) =2.70., p < .01), while all the predictors variables (organizational [r = .18, p < .05], supervisory [r = .17, p < .05] and co-worker support [r = .17, p < .05]) showed positive significant positive relationship with working parents’ well-being.
 
 Contributions: Current research provided insight toward the development of career counselling and understanding of the implication of workplace supports for healthier working parents. Furthermore, this study also contributed to the literature of human development and Super lifespan theory based on the current human development cycle.
 
 Keywords: Workplace support, supervisory support, co-worker support, working parents and psychological well-being.
 
 Cite as: Ying, C. Z., & Mohamad Nor, A. (2023). Workplace support and well-being among working parents. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(1), 46-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss1pp46-67

The multifaceted influence of age on employee work engagement: Examining the interactive effects of chronological age, relational age, and perceived age-related treatment

Building upon and extending prior research, this study examines the interplay between chronological age, relational age, and perceived age-related treatment in predicting work engagement. While previous studies have often examined these three facets of age in isolation from one another, this article develops an integrative framework that combines life span theories with relational demography and age-related treatment studies. Findings from a sample of 434 school teachers from 16 schools in Italy supported the hypothesis that the three-way interaction between relational age, chronological age and age-related treatment generates asymmetrical effects on work engagement. Specifically, at high levels of perceived positive age-related treatment, relational age was positively associated with older workers’ engagement, while greater relational age was associated with reduced work engagement when older workers perceived that they were treated unfairly based on their age. In contrast, among younger workers, work engagement was positively related to perceived positive age-related treatment whatever the level of relational age.

Do older adults construct more emotionally gratifying social environments than younger adults? Evidence from a social network decision task

Do older adults construct more emotionally gratifying social environments than younger adults? According to socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), older adults actively construct their social environments to satisfy emotional goals, drawing closer to gratifying close others and pruning less rewarding persons. Yet, there is a scarcity of direct evidence showing that older adults indeed construct more gratifying social environments by pruning negative persons and by drawing closer to positive persons. We employed a novel social network decision task to study age-related differences in the emotional composition of social environments that people construct and associations with emotional experience. In three studies, participants spanning the adult age range constructed hypothetical social environments, choosing among players according to their performance on word search puzzles and valenced feedback provided by the players about the participants’ own performance. Positive valence players always provided positive feedback, whereas negative valence players always provided negative feedback. Our findings partially support SST but draw a theoretically important distinction between pruning existing social environments and constructing new social environments. When pruning an existing social environment, older adults maintained more positive as well as more negative valence players. Conversely, when required to include players to construct their social environment, older adults produced more positive social environments by excluding negative valence players. The social environment participants constructed was associated with their emotional experience, but our findings suggest that emotion drives gratifying social choices rather than vice versa. Implications for lifespan theory of motivation are discussed.

What's age got to do with it? A primer and review of the workplace aging literature

AbstractAs populations in the United States and around the world continue to age, it has become increasingly important to understand how organizations can create working conditions that attract, support, and retain workers across the lifespan. In this paper, we provide a primer on current theory and research on age in the workplace. We briefly describe lifespan theories that have guided recent advances in the field, discuss the implications of these theories for an aging workforce, and provide an overview of current research streams that address the work and nonwork factors affecting performance, well‐being, and workforce participation among mature workers. Based on this review, we provide recommendations for future research and practice.

Emotion regulation in old and very old age.

Prominent life span theories have suggested that the ability to downregulate negative emotions remains stable or even increases well into old age. However, past evidence for continued growth during old age is mixed. In this laboratory study, 130 young old individuals (Mage = 66.72 years, SD = 1.03, range = 65 to 69 years, 48% female) and 59 very old individuals (Mage = 86.03 years, SD = 1.44, range = 83 to 89 years, 58% female) watched negative emotion evoking film clips under different emotion regulation instructions. Subjective feelings, cardiovascular reactions, and facial behavioral expressions were assessed in response to each film. Emotion regulation competence was operationalized as difference in the intensity of negative emotions during a trial with no regulation instruction versus three trials with regulation instruction, asking participants to engage in detached reappraisal, behavioral suppression, or positive reappraisal. In comparison to young old individuals, very old individuals were less able to regulate their self-reported negative feelings. These age-related deficits were partly associated with age differences in fluid cognitive abilities. Notably, however, emotion regulation deficits in very old individuals observed in self-reports of emotions were not evident at the levels of cardiovascular arousal and facial expressivity. Together this evidence speaks against one-sided views on emotional aging as uniform process of either growth or decline, even in old and very old age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Advancing the Study of Resilience to Daily Stressors

Historically, studies of childhood and adult resilience have typically focused on adaptation to chronic life adversities, such as poverty and maltreatment, or isolated and potentially traumatic events, such as bereavement and serious illness. Here, we present a complementary view and suggest that stressors experienced in daily life may also forecast individual health and well-being. We argue that daily process approaches that incorporate intensive sampling of individuals in natural settings can provide powerful insights into unfolding adaptational processes. In making this argument, we review studies that link intraindividual dynamics with diverse health-related phenomena. Findings from this research provide support for a multiple-levels-analysis perspective that embraces greater unity in pivotal resilience constructs invoked across childhood and adult literatures. Drawing on insights and principles derived from life-span theory, we conclude by outlining promising directions for future work and considering their broader implications for the field of resilience.