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<p>Purpose in life is associated with improved physical and mental health, especially in later life. However, research to date suggests challenges to sustaining purpose in life into older age, with research also showing that older adults focus less on the future, potentially impacting upon levels of purpose captured in measures oriented to the future. The present study aimed to examine whether temporal focus influences the association between age and purpose in life scores, using three purpose in life measures, each with differences in their temporal focus. Participants (<i>N</i> = 312, <i>M</i> age = 48.5 years, <i>SD</i> = 18.3) were split into control, or past, present, or future positive self-induction groups to induce temporally focused thinking prior to completing three purpose in life measures. The induction asked participants to focus on a part of their life that is going as well as it possibly could be (wording adjusted for temporal condition). Affect was measured pre and post induction. All data were collected online via Prolific. The data revealed greater purpose in life with age across all three purpose measures. However, relative to the control condition, these age-related improvements in purpose were reduced in the present-induction condition for all three measures of purpose, and in the future-induction condition for one of the measures of purpose. This study re-frames existing conceptions of challenges in finding purpose in older age to present a positive story of greater purpose with increasing age, particularly when temporal perspective is unconstrained. Motivational and emotional factors potentially underpinning older adults’ purpose in life and psychological well-being are discussed.&#xa0;<b>Public Significance Statement</b>. Research has emphasised the importance of maintaining a sense of purpose in later life, with links to health and longevity. While research to date identified difficulties in achieving purpose in life in older age, our findings offer a new perspective whereby older adults report greater purpose in life, and this is irrespective of whether they are focusing on the past, present, or future.</p>

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Purpose in Life and Temporal Focus across the Adult Lifespan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月20日

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  • Ian D. Boreham,
  • Catherine O’Gorman,
  • Phoebe E. Bailey

摘要

Purpose in life is associated with improved physical and mental health, especially in later life. However, research to date suggests challenges to sustaining purpose in life into older age, with research also showing that older adults focus less on the future, potentially impacting upon levels of purpose captured in measures oriented to the future. The present study aimed to examine whether temporal focus influences the association between age and purpose in life scores, using three purpose in life measures, each with differences in their temporal focus. Participants (N = 312, M age = 48.5 years, SD = 18.3) were split into control, or past, present, or future positive self-induction groups to induce temporally focused thinking prior to completing three purpose in life measures. The induction asked participants to focus on a part of their life that is going as well as it possibly could be (wording adjusted for temporal condition). Affect was measured pre and post induction. All data were collected online via Prolific. The data revealed greater purpose in life with age across all three purpose measures. However, relative to the control condition, these age-related improvements in purpose were reduced in the present-induction condition for all three measures of purpose, and in the future-induction condition for one of the measures of purpose. This study re-frames existing conceptions of challenges in finding purpose in older age to present a positive story of greater purpose with increasing age, particularly when temporal perspective is unconstrained. Motivational and emotional factors potentially underpinning older adults’ purpose in life and psychological well-being are discussed. Public Significance Statement. Research has emphasised the importance of maintaining a sense of purpose in later life, with links to health and longevity. While research to date identified difficulties in achieving purpose in life in older age, our findings offer a new perspective whereby older adults report greater purpose in life, and this is irrespective of whether they are focusing on the past, present, or future.