Journal
PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING
Volume 22, Issue 2, Pages 319-330Publisher
AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.22.2.319
Keywords
aging; regret; self-regulation; cortisol; physical health
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Two studies were conducted to examine the associations between life regrets and health-relevant variables among older adults. Study I explored whether intense experiences of regret would be associated with a health-relevant biological process (i.e., diurnal cortisol secretion) and acute physical problems (N = 183). In Study 2, a group of 103 older adults was followed over a period of 3 months, and changes in cold symptoms and sleep problems were examined. Study 2 incorporated an experimental manipulation, targeted at engaging participants in adaptive social- cognitive processes through writing. The results of Study I showed intense life regrets to be associated with a larger volume and a steeper morning rise of cortisol secretion and with higher levels of acute physical symptoms. Study 2 demonstrated that levels of regret intensity generally declined only in the experimental group, whereas certain aspects of regret intensity remained stable in the control group. In addition, the intervention evidenced a beneficial effect on the association between initial regret intensity and increased sleep problems over time.
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