Introduction As organizations worldwide grapple with an aging workforce and extended careers, understanding and enhancing the psychological mechanisms underpinning older employees’ job dedication has become increasingly crucial. Building upon Carstensen’s socioemotional selectivity theory, this study explores how older employees’ generativity translates into job dedication through organizational commitment, with trust serving as a key boundary condition. Methods We address this gap through a three-wave longitudinal study of 489 older employees across multiple organizations in eastern China. Using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and Bootstrap mediation testing, we examine the proposed relationships. Results The findings indicate that: (1) generativity exerts a significant positive effect on job dedication ( β = 1.06, p < 0.01); (2) generativity promotes job dedication by influencing organizational commitment ( β = 0.99, p < 0.01), which in turn enhances job dedication ( β = 0.61, p < 0.01); (3) cognitive trust ( β = 0.15, p < 0.01) and affective trust ( β = 0.18, p < 0.01) significantly moderate the effect of generativity on organizational commitment. Discussion Theoretically, our findings extend the socioemotional selectivity theory by demonstrating how generativity acts as a psychological bridge between older employees’ future time perspective and their job dedication. Practically, we identified specific trust-building practices that organizations can implement to unlock the generativity motivation potential of older employees. Thus, this study provides theoretical advances and actionable insights for developing age-inclusive workplaces.

Background/Objectives: Apathy, characterized by diminished motivation and reduced engagement in goal-directed behavior, is a prevalent concern among older adults, particularly in rural communities where opportunities for meaningful engagement may be limited. This study explores the preliminary impact of an in-person eBook club program on apathy among community-dwelling older adults in Northern British Columbia. Methods: This eight-week pilot single-group, pre-post mixed-methods study combined the use of eReaders to access weekly reading materials with facilitated in-person group discussions designed to foster emotional and social connection. Apathy was assessed using the 3-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-3A) before and after the program. Results: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a statistically significant reduction in apathy scores (Z = -4.01, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (r = 0.76). While not powered for hypothesis testing, these findings suggest the program may have a meaningful effect. Qualitative analysis of participants who reported higher baseline apathy scores identified three key mechanisms of change: positivity effect, selective pruning of social networks, and adaptive coping, consistent with socioemotional selectivity theory. Conclusions: These preliminary results support the feasibility and potential value of theory-informed, low-cost group reading programs for addressing apathy in older adults and can inform the design of a larger, controlled study.

Employee perceived threat of technological disruption (PTTD) -the extent to which employees believe their current jobs are threatened by Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Algorithms (STARA)- has been established in the literature as a contributor to psychological distress (PD). However, no research has examined how individual characteristics shape this relationship. To address this gap, this quantitative study draws on Conservation of Resources Theory, Challenge-Hindrance Stressor framework, Job Demands-Resources model, and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory to investigate the relationship between PTTD and PD, as well as the moderating role of age, in the Egyptian context. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a cross-sectional snowball sample of 205 full-time employees (females: n = 65; males: n = 140; public sector: n = 124; private sector: n = 81). Hayes PROCESS Macro (Model 1) regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed a positive relationship between PTTD and PD, and that this relationship weakens with age. These results suggest that younger employees are more psychologically vulnerable to technological disruption, whereas older employees demonstrate greater emotional resilience. This highlights the importance for Egyptian organizations to employ age-tailored HR interventions that support younger employees while leveraging older employees’ emotional resilience in the face of STARA.

ABSTRACT With the rapid development of digital technology, the factors influencing the depressive symptoms of the elderly have undergone new changes. Most existing studies treat social support as a singular concept, without distinguishing between online and offline forms of support. This study aims to investigate the relationship between two distinct sources of offline social support – family and friends – and Internet use, as well as their combined impact on depressive symptoms among the elderly. Furthermore, this study examines the moderating role of educational level on the mediating variables. This study formulates research hypotheses based on social support theory and socioemotional selectivity theory. For the empirical analysis, data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were employed. The CHARLS data were collected using a stratified multi-stage PPS sampling method. After data screening, a total of 9,250 participants were included, corresponding to 14,373 valid samples. Methodologically, panel negative binomial regression models and moderated mediation analysis were applied to systematically test the proposed hypotheses. The results show that Internet use positively influences the reduction of depressive symptoms among the elderly, with offline social support from family and friends serving as partial mediators. Moreover, educational level weakens the indirect effect of Internet use on depressive symptoms through offline social support from friends. This study extends the theoretical understanding of depressive symptoms among the elderly from the perspective of social support and offers new insights for both theory and practice.

Abstract Disasters negatively impact mental health (NIH, 2022) but some research found that older age was protective (Strough et al., 2023). We used data (n = 936) from six monthly surveys of the Understanding America Study to investigate whether the impact of disasters on depression and anxiety varied across adulthood and if so, whether temporal orientations to the past, present, or future mediated any age differences. Panelists reported whether they had experienced any disaster in the past month (e.g., hurricane, wildfire) and if so, whether they had personally experienced any negative consequence (e.g., evacuation, property loss). Older age was consistently associated with reporting fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety even among those who had experienced a disaster or negative consequence. Depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly greater among individuals who had experienced a negative consequence of a disaster versus not having experienced any disaster, or having experienced a disaster without a negative consequence. Mediation analyses tested present, past, and future temporal orientations as pathways between older age and fewer anxiety and depression symptoms, controlling for income, education, race, and gender. Older age was associated with lesser past and future temporal orientations. Greater temporal orientation toward the past (but not future or present) was significantly associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms. Age-related reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms were partially explained by a lesser tendency to focus on the past at older ages. Findings are interpreted from the perspective of Carstensen’s (2006) socio-emotional selectivity theory. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Abstract Socioemotional Selectivity Theory posits that as people age, they prioritize immediate emotional satisfaction over long-term goals due to the perception of limited time. This shift influences older adults’ romantic relationships, increasing the likelihood of seeking meaningful connections and avoiding negative emotions. With healthy relationships linked to physical, psychological, and financial benefits, research is needed to further understand older adult romantic relationships. The purpose of this study is to explore gender differences in older adults’ preferences for long-term and short-term relationships and their sexual satisfaction. Older adults (n = 155) aged 65-95 years completed surveys assessing short-term and long-term relationship preferences, current positive and negative sexual satisfaction, and predicted future positive and negative sexual satisfaction. Results indicate that males report higher preferences for long-term relationships (t(153) = 3.86, p &amp;lt; .001) and predicted more positive future sexual satisfaction (t(89) = 3.01, p &amp;lt; .01). Females were nearing significance of more negative current sexual satisfaction (t(52) = -1.57, p = .06). As the aging population increases and gray divorce is more prevalent, these findings have important implications for researchers, practitioners, and aging adults. Differences in relationship preference may result in disconnect between potential partners due to the type of relationship desired. Additionally, predicting more positive future sexual satisfaction may create expectations that could result in relationship distress and dissatisfaction. Future research is needed to explore the dyadic effects of differences in relationship and sexual preferences. Additionally, more diverse samples such as with same sex relationships and the oldest old are needed.

Background(1) Investigate the effects of age [Younger (YA) vs. Older (OA) Adults] and framing (Risk of Loss vs. Reward) on a cognitive effort‐based decision‐making task (CEDT) in which participants can choose to expend greater effort (i.e., working memory) to maximize their earnings, and (2) Examine the construct validity of this task in relation to self‐report symptom inventories. Based on the developmental course of cognitive control systems and the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory of Aging, we hypothesized that (1) YAs would choose to expend more effort [DV=Hard Task Selection Frequency (HTSF)] in pursuit of rewards, (2) OAs would choose to expend more effort to avoid loss, and (3) lower effort expenditure (HTSF) would be more strongly related to self‐reported symptoms of amotivation than mood.MethodNinety‐seven (YA=52, OA=45) cognitively normal adults completed the CEDT and questionnaires assessing mood (PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) and motivation (DAS: Dimensional Apathy Scale).ResultOverall, YAs exhibited greater effort expenditure (HTSF: YA=59%, OA=49%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.08). On risk trials, YAs had significantly faster decision reaction times (DRT: p <0.001), but did not differ significantly from OAs in accuracy (YA=51%, OA=51%) or effort expenditure (HTSF: YA=42%, OA=45%; Eta2<0.01). On reward trials, all between‐group comparisons were statistically significant (p <0.001), with YAs making faster decisions (DRT: Eta2 = 0.13), exhibiting greater effort (HTSF: YA=77%, OA=52%; Eta2 = 0.14), and maintaining a higher accuracy rate (YA=76%, OA=56%; Eta2 = 0.14) than their OA counterparts. Effort expenditure on risk trials was not significantly correlated with self‐report measures, while greater effort expenditure on reward trials was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) correlated with lower positive affect (R2 = 0.10), higher negative affect (R2 = 0.07), and greater executive apathy (R2 = 0.09).ConclusionObtained findings were partially consistent with our hypotheses as both age groups exhibited greater cognitive effort in pursuit of rewards and risk aversion was only slightly higher in OAs vs. YAs, while greater effort expenditure (on reward trials only) was counterintuitively related to greater self‐reported symptoms of mental effort avoidance and mood. While the concept of decisional inertia may help to contextualize our findings, such potential confounds will need to be explored in our future work.

Abstract Research supporting socioemotional selectivity theory finds that older adults tend to have better emotion regulation than younger adults, particularly with regard to negative emotion. Verbalized self-talk (i.e., audible speech when alone) may be an important but understudied emotion regulation strategy in late life, promoting psychological distance through second-person pronouns and structured speech, and providing an opportunity to express negative emotions. The current study sought to characterize linguistic features of verbalized self-talk descriptively and in comparison to conversations with social partners. Older adults (N = 333; Mage=73.9) reported whether they had been with social partners every three hours across 5–6 days. Electronically Activated Recorders captured 30-second sound snippets every 7 minutes. Coders transcribed 109,609 snippets; 918 snippets contained verbal utterances when participants were alone (self-talk). Using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, we extracted linguistic features including second-person pronouns, formal and structured language, and emotional tone. Multilevel models revealed no significant within-person association between being alone and second-person pronoun use. However, when participants were alone, they used more structured language and expressed more negative emotion compared with language when with social partners. This study makes an important contribution by capturing naturalistic self-talk as it occurs in daily life and suggests self-talk may help older adults regulate negative emotions. Future research using wearable sensors might capture arousal or allow self-reported experience sampling of unspoken self-talk to tease out when and who uses self-talk to regulate emotions.

The growing geriatric population creates a greater need for integrated psychosocial therapies in old-age homes to enhance mental health, cognition, and social integration. This article provides an evidence-based description of well-established psychosocial therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), reminiscence therapy, mindfulness practices, positive psychology interventions, social activity programs, and creative therapies like art and music therapy. Drawing on previous theoretical frameworks, such as the Successful Aging Model, Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, and the Cognitive Reserve Hypothesis, this study investigates how these interventions influence psychological resilience and quality of life in aging populations. A central focus is given to the translatability of psychosocial therapies to institutional settings, with consideration of challenges such as resource limitations, training, and resistance to change. Best practice for psychosocial integration, including the application of custom-designed care models and technology solutions, is reviewed. Ethical dilemmas, including autonomy, informed consent, and cultural responsiveness, are considered against the background of elder dignity and rights. Moreover, policy options highlight age-friendly healthcare policies based on prioritization of integrated holistic well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of multi-dimensional psychosocial care of the older population and invite continued research on the effectiveness of long-term intervention, cross-cultural applicability, and innovative digital strategies to older populations. With an emphasis on evidence-based methods, this article aims to contribute to the evolution of psychosocial care in older adult care towards increasing dignity, activity, and emotional strength in older age.

While Socioemotional Selectivity Theory suggests that individuals perceive their remaining time as limited with age, this perception may vary with health. This study examined differences in subjective life expectancy (SLE) between frail and non-frail middle-aged and older adults in South Korea across age groups. A cross-sectional sample was drawn from Wave 1 of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Propensity score matching produced two comparable groups (749 frail and 749 non-frail) with no significant demographic differences. Using the matched sample (N = 1,498), multiple linear regression models were conducted. Results showed that frailty was negatively associated with SLE (B = -17.48, p < .001), with the frailty-age interaction showing more pronounced effects in younger-old than mid-old (B = 18.03, p < .001) and oldest-old groups (B = 21.52, p < .001). These findings underscore the importance of both physical and psychological interventions targeting frailty to improve SLE in aging populations.

Purpose This study investigates two distinct yet interconnected sets of relationships. First, grounded in the person–organisation fit theory, it examines the relationship between individual work performance dimensions – namely, task and contextual performance – and employees’ intentions to leave their current employer for organisations that are either more stakeholder-oriented or have a more ambitious reputation. Second, guided by considerations of demographic change, life-span development theory and socio-emotional selectivity theory, the study examines the relationship between age and individual work performance dimensions. Design/methodology/approach To examine the relationship between individual work performance and person–organisation values fit as well as the association between different age groups and individual work performance, we use a path analysis on extensive survey data of Estonian employees (n = 3,606) collected in autumn 2022. Findings The dimensions of individual work performance influence employees’ consideration for leaving, but in counterintuitive ways. High task orientation is not associated with any considerations to leave the current employer. However, employees with high contextual performance are more likely to leave their current employment for an organisation with a more ambitious reputation. Those employees also show preference for a more stakeholder-oriented employer, which in itself is not a standalone reason to leave their current employer. Consistent with predictions from life-span development and socio-emotional selectivity theory, older employees demonstrate significantly stronger task performance yet notably weaker contextual performance. Research limitations/implications Relying on self-reported measures of work performance may introduce biases, such as social desirability effects. The study relies on conceptual rather than validated constructs, which limits the interpretative depth and comparability of the findings. Objective performance measures could provide more robust insights. In addition, Estonia’s cultural context may limit the generalizability of our findings. Cross-cultural studies could elucidate the role of cultural factors in shaping the observed relationships. Practical implications Organisations can reduce employee turnover by improving their public reputation for being more ambitious, whereas stakeholder orientation should not be undermined in this process. This is especially important for attracting younger employees, who also tend to exhibit higher contextual performance. For them, high ambitions and stakeholder orientation are not mutually exclusive. Organisations should consider that older employees tend to be more task-oriented, prioritising the specific job responsibilities. Originality/value This paper enhances the current understanding of person–organisation fit by exploring two specific motivations – a more ambitious reputation and a stronger stakeholder orientation – for leaving the company and how these factors interact with individual work performance. Individual work performance, as a behavioural attitude related to work, has not previously been linked to employees’ intention to leave and age predicts dimensions of individual work performance.

IntroductionGlobal population aging is intensifying, posing significant challenges to care for older adults. In this context, age-appropriate smart wearable devices, with their capabilities for efficient physiological monitoring, disease prevention, and safety protection, play an important role in supporting the health and independence of older adults. However, the relationship between the technological affordance of these devices and the well-being of older adults has not been fully explored. In this study, an integrated theoretical model was constructed based on Technological Affordance Theory (TAT), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST).MethodsData from 233 older adults using age-appropriate smart wearable devices were collected through a questionnaire, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe results indicate that the visibility (β = 0.155–0.238, p < 0.05), interactivity (β = 0.155–0.304, p < 0.05), and directiveness (β = 0.292–0.395, p < 0.001) of age-appropriate smart wearable devices are significantly and positively correlated with older adults’ sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Furthermore, these psychological needs are significantly and positively correlated with their overall well-being (β = 0.184–0.352, p < 0.01). Sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness significantly mediated the relationship between technological affordance and older adults’ well-being (indirect effects = 0.034–0.139, 95% confidence interval [CI] excluding 0).DiscussionThis study reveals that technological affordance is indirectly positively correlated with the well-being of older adults via their psychological needs, offering practical insights for the design and development of age-appropriate smart wearable devices.

This research explores gender differences in long- and short-term relationships and sexual satisfaction among older adults. Socioemotional Selectivity Theory posits that as people age, they prioritize immediate emotional satisfaction due to perceptions of limited time. This shift influences older adults’ romantic relationships, increasing the likelihood of seeking meaningful connections and reducing the prevalence of negative emotions. With healthy relationships linked to physical, psychological, and financial benefits, research is needed to further understand older adult romantic relationships. Older adults (n = 155) from the Seniors Together in Aging Research (STAR) completed a survey assessing relationship preferences and current and predicted sexual satisfaction. T-tests were used to determine gender differences. Several gender differences were noted. Men reported greater levels of sexual satisfaction and predicted more positive future sex as compared to women. Men placed greater importance on long-term relationships. There was no gender difference in short-term relationship importance. Women may have shorter-term relationship desires to avoid taking on caregiving. This aligns with previous research indicating that when seeking new relationships, women are cautious about the potential of providing care to a partner. Greater sexual satisfaction reported by men aligns with previous research noting that men tend to be more sexually satisfied throughout the lifespan.

Socioemotional selectivity theory argues that a limited future time perspective (FTP) drives older adults to prioritize emotionally meaningful goals, such as interaction with close partners, thereby enhancing well-being. However, empirical studies on the relationship between FTP and well-being have yielded contradictory results. This study examines whether the controversy arises from erroneous cross-level inferences and failure to distinguish social relationship scoring types. Data were drawn from 5 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2020; n = 16,694). Two indicators of well-being, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, were assessed. Using multilevel mediation models, the study explored the associations between FTP, social relationships (absolute and relative), and well-being at 3 levels: within-individual, between-individual, and between-cohort. Limited FTP was consistently associated with higher depressive symptoms across levels and with lower life satisfaction at the within- and between-individual levels, but higher life satisfaction at the between-cohort level. It was also linked to a stronger preference for close relationships at the within-individual and between-cohort levels-driven by declining peripheral ties in the former and increasing close ties in the latter-but this preference did not enhance well-being. At the between-individual level, parallel reductions in both relationships left preference unchanged but decreased well-being. We found partial evidence of Simpson's Paradox: limited FTP was linked to lower life satisfaction and reduced close relationships at the individual level, but the opposite at the cohort level. Enhancing interactions with both close and peripheral partners could help improve well-being.

Purpose This research strives to understand the resistance of elderly customers to AI-powered chatbots in banking. It applies the resistance to innovation paradigm to test the effects of barriers and the socioemotional selectivity theory to integrate future time perspective (FTP) (limited or expansive) to understand how elderly non-users perceive barriers and resistance. Design/methodology/approach This research consisted of twelve studies. In study 1, data were collected online from elderly non-users. The model was tested using SmartPLS. In Study 2, participants were randomly primed with either a limited or an expansive FTP. In Studies 3a-j, participants were randomly assigned to either high or low barrier conditions, with each study focusing exclusively on a specific barrier. All studies employed a snowball sampling method. Findings The findings of Study 1 indicated that FTP was negatively associated with resistance, as well as with only four barriers: value and complexity barriers (functional barriers) and information and privacy risk barriers (psychological barriers). These four barriers, in turn, were positively related to resistance. The results from Studies 2 and 3a-j validated the causal relationships among these four variables, allowing for an analysis of both the direct and indirect effects (through value, complexity, information and privacy risk barriers) of FTP on resistance. Originality/value This research is the first to consider the perception that elderly people have that the time they have left (i.e. FTP) affects the way they form barriers and resistance to AI-powered chatbots. Therefore, this research provides a novel understanding of the phenomenon of resistance based on how people view and adjust their future outlook.

ABSTRACT Smartphones increasingly mediate communication and service access, yet rural elders face persistent adoption barriers. Using a sequential mixed-methods design with interviews of 14 families and surveys of 123 parent – child dyads, this study examines how digital support from adult children reshapes intergenerational relations. Emotionally meaningful goals such as maintaining family ties and enjoyment motivate use, but dependence on children, often daughters-in-law, creates authority tension when elders’ expertise is challenged. Findings extend socioemotional selectivity theory, refine bottom-up transmission as intergenerational learning, and formalize authority tension as a relational consequence, highlighting relationally sensitive, age-friendly strategies for digital inclusion.

ABSTRACT This study adopts the Stimulus – Organism – Response framework to examine how the interaction between advertising content strategies (ACS) and future time perspective (FTP) influences older tourists’ travel intention in wellness tourism. Grounded in socioemotional selectivity theory and advertising typology, two scenario-based experiments were conducted to reveal a significant matching effect: transformational ACS are more persuasive for tourists with limited FTP, while informational ACS work better for those with open FTP. This effect is partially mediated by perceived hedonic and utilitarian value and further moderated by the advertising source. The contextually congruent combinations of ACS, FTP, perceived value, and advertising source can trigger distinct psychological pathway mechanisms and enhance older tourists’ travel intention, offering strategic guidance for targeting older tourists through precision marketing in wellness tourism.

This study investigates differences in the three dimensions of job crafting—task crafting, relational crafting, and cognitive crafting—across various employee age groups. A total of 402 workers from diverse sectors in the JABODETABEK region participated in this research through an online survey utilizing the Job Crafting Questionnaire ( JCQ), which had undergone cross-cultural adaptation. Data analysis was conducted using the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by post-hoc pairwise comparisons. The findings reveal a statistically significant difference in the relational crafting dimension among age groups, with employees aged 18–24 years demonstrating the highest engagement compared to those aged ≥35 years. However, no significant differences were observed in task crafting and cognitive crafting dimensions. These results are examined through the lenses of Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory, Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, and Career Construction Theory, which collectively elucidate how age shapes individuals’ crafting strategies in the workplace. This study contributes to the developmental-based Job Crafting literature, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for effectively managing a multigenerational workforce.

Climate change is associated with an increase in the frequency of extreme weather that threatens emotional well-being, with some research pointing to increased vulnerability among older adults. We investigated how age relates to depression and anxiety following adversities due to extreme weather or natural disaster. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) posits that older age buffers against emotional distress. The strength and vulnerability integration model (SAVI) posits that this age-related advantage is attenuated during periods of acute stress. Members (n = 9761, M age = 52.22, SD = 16.36 yrs) of a nationally representative, probability-based US internet panel, the Understanding America Study (UAS), reported their experience with extreme weather or natural disaster (e.g., severe storms, tornado, flood), associated adversities (e.g., property loss), and depression and anxiety over the past month. Of the 1075 respondents experiencing extreme weather or natural disaster, 216 reported related adversity. Those experiencing adversity reported more anxiety and depression than those with no events, while extreme weather or disaster alone made no significant difference. Consistent with SST, older age was associated with less depression and anxiety. This age-related benefit was most apparent among those experiencing weather- or disaster-related adversity, even when controlling for socio-demographic correlates. Findings highlight age-related emotional resilience with implications for climate change policy and practice.

We sought to examine the relationship between pastime activities (i.e., activity engagement), social connectedness with family and friends, and severity of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) symptoms across younger, middle-aged, and older adults. The participants (N=105) were bereaved individuals who participated in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded Living Memory Home study to determine the risks and benefits of an online tool for bereavement adjustment. Cross-sectional findings showed that engagement in pastime activities (e.g., travel, sports) was associated with greater social connectedness for older adults, and social connectedness was associated with lower PGD symptom severity. Engagement in pastime activities was associated with lower PGD symptom severity for middle-aged adults. Results are consistent with the socioemotional selectivity theory and the microsociological theory of adjustment to loss and suggest that grief interventions should have age-specific strategies, encourage specific pastime activities, and promote feelings of social connectedness.