Planning for the future: A life management strategy for increasing control and life satisfaction in adulthood.
Abstract
The study examined the social, personality, and cognitive correlates of self-reported future planning and the relationship of future planning to perceived control and life satisfaction. Using 2 probability samples of adults ages 25-74 (n = 2,971, n2 = 300) findings suggest, for Study 1, that education, income, social support, predictability, Conscientiousness. and Openness to Experience were positively related to future planning, whereas Neuroticism and Agreeableness were negatively related. Men were more future oriented; as age increased, future planning decreased. Study 2 replicated the findings with the exception of age, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. For both studies, results supported a model in which the effects of future planning on life satisfaction were mediated by sense of control. A Planning x Age interaction for Study I indicated that although self-reported future planning decreased with age, the positive effects of future-oriented planning strategies on life satisfaction were most pronounced for the older adults, and this relationship was also mediated by control beliefs.
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People planned for the future less as they got older.
“A study of future planning by Prenda and Lachman (2001) found that people planned for the future less as they got older.”
From Smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and algorithms (STARA): employees' perceptions of our future workplace (2018) · cites this paper as Prenda and Lachman (2001)
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“Perceived control was measured by averaging two control subscales (personal mastery and perceived constraints) consisting of 12 items (see Lachman & Weaver, 1998; Pearlin & Schooler, 1978).”
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“These results not only lend further support for the idea that a greater sense of control is positively related to well-being (e.g., Bond & Feather, 1988; Brandtstadter & Baltes-Gotz, 1990; Burack & Lachman, 1995; Eronen et al., 1997; Lachman & Burack, 1993; Macan et al., 1990; Skinner, 1997) but also begin to address…”
BackgroundResultTime management: Test of a process model
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Personality and the leading behavioral contributors of mortality.
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- Authors
- Prenda, K. M., & Lachman, M. E.
- Affiliations
- Brandeis University (US)
- ORCID
- Lachman, Margie E.
- Venue
- Psychology and Aging
- Published
- 2001
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 206-216
- ISSN
- 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1498
- OpenAlex
- W2154381586
- Cited by
- 459
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 8.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG017920, AG17920)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- future planning, life management, perceived control, life satisfaction, personality traits, conscientiousness, openness to experience, neuroticism, agreeableness, social support, predictability, income, gender differences, age differences, older adults, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Cognition, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Personality, Quality of Life, Sampling Studies, Sex Factors, United States, Self Efficacy
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