Perceived control of life regrets: good for young and bad for old adults.

Full Abstract

Age differences in the associations among intensity of regret, control attributions, and intrusive thoughts were investigated (N = 122, age range = 20-87 years). Given that the opportunities to overcome regrettable behavior decline with age, older adults' attributions of low internal control were expected to serve self-protective functions and facilitate deactivation of regret. In younger adults, by contrast, high levels of internal-control attributions might facilitate active change of regrettable behavior, resulting in low intensities of regret. The results showed that internal-control attributions were related to high intensity of regret and intrusive thoughts in older adults. Among younger adults, however, internal-control attributions were associated with low intensity of regret and low levels of intrusive thoughts.

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Author information

Author/s: Wrosch, Carsten (C); Heckhausen, Jutta (J);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology and Centre for Research in Human Develompent, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. wrosch(-atsign-)vax2.concordia.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychology and aging (Psychol Aging), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jun; vol 17 (issue 2) : pp 340-50

Dates: Created 2002/06/13; Completed 2002/11/25; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12061416, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - psychology
Cognition
Emotions

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