TY - JOUR
T1 - "When looking back on my past life I regret..."
T2 - Retrospective regret in the second half of life
AU - Timmer, Erika
AU - Westerhof, Gerben J.
AU - Dittmann-Kohli, Freya
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - The study investigated the frequency, themes, and attributions for significant regrets in a random probability sample of 3,917 German and Dutch nationals between the ages of 40 and 85 years. It was found that 14% did not have any regrets in spontaneous memory, and that this increased with the age of the respondents. With respect to mentioned regrets, older people, women, and those living in the former East Germany were more likely to recall externally attributed events; younger participants, men, West Germans, and the Dutch recalled more internally attributed events. Largely, memories related to 4 major themes: (a) mistakes, behavior, and bad decisions in general; (b) hard times; (c) social relationships; and (d) missed educational opportunities. The importance of these themes, however, varied according to age, gender, and regional belonging. Differences in the kind of attribution and in the centrality of themes are discussed in terms of lifespan theory, death preparation, and cultural differences.
AB - The study investigated the frequency, themes, and attributions for significant regrets in a random probability sample of 3,917 German and Dutch nationals between the ages of 40 and 85 years. It was found that 14% did not have any regrets in spontaneous memory, and that this increased with the age of the respondents. With respect to mentioned regrets, older people, women, and those living in the former East Germany were more likely to recall externally attributed events; younger participants, men, West Germans, and the Dutch recalled more internally attributed events. Largely, memories related to 4 major themes: (a) mistakes, behavior, and bad decisions in general; (b) hard times; (c) social relationships; and (d) missed educational opportunities. The importance of these themes, however, varied according to age, gender, and regional belonging. Differences in the kind of attribution and in the centrality of themes are discussed in terms of lifespan theory, death preparation, and cultural differences.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23744493795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07481180591004660
DO - 10.1080/07481180591004660
M3 - Article
C2 - 16136713
AN - SCOPUS:23744493795
SN - 0748-1187
VL - 29
SP - 625
EP - 644
JO - Death Studies
JF - Death Studies
IS - 7
ER -
