This article addresses the role played by adaptive self-regulation in protecting older adults’ psychological and physical health. A theoretical model is outlined illustrating how common age-related challenges (i.e., physical challenges and life regrets) can influence older adults’ health. In addition, the proposed model suggests that older adults can avoid the adverse health effects of encountering these problems if they engage in adaptive self-regulation. Finally, this article reviews recent studies that examined the adaptive value of self-regulation processes for managing physical challenges and life regrets in the elderly. The findings from cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies document the importance of adaptive self-regulation for maintaining older adults’ health.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Preparation of this article was supported in part by grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Fonds de la recherche sur la société et la culture, Québec (FQRSC), NIA (AG024827, AG13305, AG015321, AG20677, P30 AG024827), NINR (NR08272), NIMH (P30MH071944), National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P60MD000207), NHLBI (P50HL076852, P50HL076858), and funds awarded to the Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University (NIH HL076852 and HL076858).
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Wrosch, C., Dunne, E., Scheier, M.F. et al. Self-Regulation of Common Age-Related Challenges: Benefits for Older Adults’ Psychological and Physical Health. J Behav Med 29, 299–306 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-006-9051-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-006-9051-x