Longitudinal purpose in life trajectories: Examining predictors in late midlife

Han Jung Ko; Karen Hooker; G. John Geldhof; Dan P. McAdams

doi:10.1037/pag0000093

Longitudinal purpose in life trajectories: Examining predictors in late midlife

Han Jung Ko^*, Karen Hooker, G. John Geldhof, Dan P. McAdams

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Education and Social Policy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research shows midlife adults consistently report higher purpose in life (PIL) than older adults. However, less is known about the changes in PIL during the transition from midlife to older adulthood. This study examined 5-year changes of PIL among late-midlife adults in the Foley Longitudinal Study of Adulthood (n = 163, M_Age = 56.37). Results showed that most midlife adults reported higher-stable PIL whereas some of them showed lower-stable PIL, with trait conscientiousness and race being significant predictors of PIL. Future studies should investigate when PIL tends to stabilize and how personality and racial experiences influence the development of PIL.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	693-698
Number of pages	6
Journal	Psychology and Aging
Volume	31
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000093
State	Published - Nov 1 2016

Keywords

African American
Midlife
Personality traits
Purpose in life

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Aging
Geriatrics and Gerontology

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title = "Longitudinal purpose in life trajectories: Examining predictors in late midlife",

abstract = "Research shows midlife adults consistently report higher purpose in life (PIL) than older adults. However, less is known about the changes in PIL during the transition from midlife to older adulthood. This study examined 5-year changes of PIL among late-midlife adults in the Foley Longitudinal Study of Adulthood (n = 163, MAge = 56.37). Results showed that most midlife adults reported higher-stable PIL whereas some of them showed lower-stable PIL, with trait conscientiousness and race being significant predictors of PIL. Future studies should investigate when PIL tends to stabilize and how personality and racial experiences influence the development of PIL.",

keywords = "African American, Midlife, Personality traits, Purpose in life",

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AU - Ko, Han Jung

AU - Hooker, Karen

AU - Geldhof, G. John

AU - McAdams, Dan P.

PY - 2016/11/1

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AB - Research shows midlife adults consistently report higher purpose in life (PIL) than older adults. However, less is known about the changes in PIL during the transition from midlife to older adulthood. This study examined 5-year changes of PIL among late-midlife adults in the Foley Longitudinal Study of Adulthood (n = 163, MAge = 56.37). Results showed that most midlife adults reported higher-stable PIL whereas some of them showed lower-stable PIL, with trait conscientiousness and race being significant predictors of PIL. Future studies should investigate when PIL tends to stabilize and how personality and racial experiences influence the development of PIL.

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Longitudinal purpose in life trajectories: Examining predictors in late midlife

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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