Understanding inter-individual variability in purpose: Longitudinal findings from the VA normative aging study

Patrick L. Hill; Nicholas A. Turiano; Avron Spiro; Daniel K. Mroczek

doi:10.1037/pag0000020

Understanding inter-individual variability in purpose: Longitudinal findings from the VA normative aging study

Patrick L. Hill^*, Nicholas A. Turiano, Avron Spiro, Daniel K. Mroczek

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

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

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research has demonstrated the importance of having a purpose in older adulthood; however, little is known about whether and how individuals vary on sense of purpose over time. The current study examined patterns of mean- and individual-level change in purpose among men in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (n = 587, M_age = 74 years) across a 3-year span. Findings demonstrate that while little mean-level change was present, there was interindividual variability in change. Further research is needed to understand why these changes occur, as age, health status, and personality failed to predict individual fluctuations in purpose.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	529-533
Number of pages	5
Journal	Psychology and Aging
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000020
State	Published - Sep 1 2015

Keywords

Health
Older adulthood
Personality
Purpose in life

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geriatrics and Gerontology
Social Psychology
Aging

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10.1037/pag0000020

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abstract = "Research has demonstrated the importance of having a purpose in older adulthood; however, little is known about whether and how individuals vary on sense of purpose over time. The current study examined patterns of mean- and individual-level change in purpose among men in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (n = 587, Mage = 74 years) across a 3-year span. Findings demonstrate that while little mean-level change was present, there was interindividual variability in change. Further research is needed to understand why these changes occur, as age, health status, and personality failed to predict individual fluctuations in purpose.",

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AU - Mroczek, Daniel K.

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AB - Research has demonstrated the importance of having a purpose in older adulthood; however, little is known about whether and how individuals vary on sense of purpose over time. The current study examined patterns of mean- and individual-level change in purpose among men in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (n = 587, Mage = 74 years) across a 3-year span. Findings demonstrate that while little mean-level change was present, there was interindividual variability in change. Further research is needed to understand why these changes occur, as age, health status, and personality failed to predict individual fluctuations in purpose.

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KW - Personality

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Understanding inter-individual variability in purpose: Longitudinal findings from the VA normative aging study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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