Regret in the life reflections of older adults

Who has not mentally revisited a moment in life, §reflected upon it, found it lacking, imagined and §retrospectively desired a better alternative? This §is the essence of regret. Regret may be useful if §one can effect change in what is regretted or learn §from it. What happens, however, when opportunities §to effect change or to pursue unattained goals are §diminished, as in later life? This study focuses on §the experience of regret in older adults as §expressed in in-depth life history interviews, using §quantitative and qualitative methods. The main §research questions were: Do personality and §dispositional variables have differential impact on §frequency and intensity of regret? Does regret have §impact on older adults psychological and physical §well-being? What are regret themes and dimensions in §older adults? Are there high- and low-regret §profiles that may indicate a tendency to be §regretful?§This book, based on an empirical study, addresses §researchers in adult development and §aging, life review, autobiographical memory, §reminiscence and narrative but is also of interest §to clinicians, therapists and individuals interested §in regret.