Abstract
Engaging in aging preparatory activities that is perceived to be utile for oneself (e.g., to retain autonomy and independence) and for others (e.g., to retain a harmonious relationship with important others) may have a functional effect on one’s aging process. We examined how perceived self- and other-related utilities of aging preparatory activities were associated with positive future thinking across adulthood, and whether these associations differed by culture. Building upon cross-sectional data from a web-based study conducted in Hong Kong (n = 283, Mage = 55.12, aged 18–85 years), the USA (n = 264, Mage = 51.06, aged 20–85 years) and Germany (n = 402, Mage = 51.65, aged 19–90 years), we observed different patterns of associations across these three cultures. Perceiving self-related utilities was linked to positive future thinking in the USA and Germany, but not in Hong Kong. In contrast, perceiving other-related utilities of aging preparatory activities was positively associated with future thinking in Hong Kong, but not in the USA or Germany. Perceived risks, on the other hand, showed a negative association with positive future thinking across all cultures. Findings suggest that there might be a culture-specific tendency for individuals to appraise their future, based on their perceived self- or other-related utilities of aging preparatory activities.
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Notes
To test the partial measurement invariance, the constraints of the following seven items were released: One item “looking at my own life fills me with worries (recoded)” from positive future thinking, “financial provision” and “living arrangements” domains from perceived self-related utilities, “social connectedness” and “dying and death” domains from perceived other-related utilities, and lastly, “financial provision” and “social connectedness” domains from perceived risks of aging preparatory activities.
Three age groups were included for this additional analysis. The first group included those aged up to 39 years (n = 282), the second group included those aged 40–59 years (n = 281), and the last group consisted of those aged 60 and above (n = 401). The model fit after constraining the factor loadings was not significantly different from that of the unconstrained model suggesting that this research model was comparable across different age groups.
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The research in this manuscript was supported by a research grant from the Volkswagen Foundation to Frieder R. Lang (Az 86 759, Az 93 273).
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Kim-Knauss, Y., Lang, F.R., Rohr, M.K. et al. For a better me? Or for a better us? Perceived utilities of aging preparatory activities and positive future thinking in Germany, USA and Hong Kong. Eur J Ageing 17, 259–269 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00530-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00530-0