The purpose of this study was to examine the differential influences of various coping strategies of life regrets on the psychological adaptation in old age. In Study I, 120 older adults(age m=74.67, sd=5.95) were participated and analysed the relatio ...
The purpose of this study was to examine the differential influences of various coping strategies of life regrets on the psychological adaptation in old age. In Study I, 120 older adults(age m=74.67, sd=5.95) were participated and analysed the relationships among life regrets experiences, the intensity of life regrets-related negative emotions experiences, and adaptation index(subjective well-being, psychological well-being, geriatric depression). In results, life regrets experiences and intensity of negative emotion experiences were negatively related with subjective well-being and psychological well-being but positively related with geriatric depression. Then, the coping strategies(adaptive goal disengagement, seeking new goal, regret-related intrusive thoughts) scale was developed in study I. In Study II, 200 older adults(age m=74.55, sd=5.97) were participated and examined the differential influences of coping strategies(adaptive goal disengagement, seeking new goal, regret-related intrusive thoughts), life regrets experiences, the intensity of negative emotional experiences on the adaptive index(subjective well-being, psychological well-being, ego-integrity) in old age. Consequently, life regrets experiences, intensity of negative emotion, regret-related intrusive thoughts had negative effects but seeking new goal strategy had positive effects on the adaptive index in old age. However, adaptive goal disengagement strategy had no significant effect on the adaptive index although older adults used that strategy often. The important meanings of effective and practical coping strategies can improve the psychological adaptation in old age were discussed.