Cited by 614Aging and Gerontology ResearchCreativity in Education and NeuroscienceIdentity, Memory, and Therapy

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Generativity among young, midlife, and older adults

McAdams, Dan P., de St. Aubin, Ed, Logan, Regina L.·1993·Psychology and Aging

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Abstract

Generativity is conceived as a configuration of psychosocial features constellated around the goal of providing for the next generation. This study used a stratified random sampling of young (ages 22-27), midlife (ages 37-42), and older (ages 67-72) adults to examine age-cohort differences in 4 generativity features: generative concern, commitments, actions, and narration. Although prevailing views on generativity (e.g., Erikson, 1963) predict a peak in midlife and decline thereafter, support for this developmental hypothesis was mixed. Midlife Ss scored higher than young and older Ss on concern and actions in a second administration of measures, but not in the first. Generative commitments and narration showed high scores for both midlife and older Ss and relatively low scores for young Ss. Generative concern, assessed with the Loyola Generativity Scale, was positively associated with life satisfaction.

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THE HOT AND COOL OF DEATH AWARENESS AT WORK: MORTALITY CUES, AGING, AND SELF-PROTECTIVE AND PROSOCIAL MOTIVATIONS.
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“Research supports the core hypothesis that generativity increases around midlife (Keyes & Ryff, 1998; McAdams et al., 1993; Peterson & Klohnen, 1995; Stewart & Ostrove, 1998; Stewart, Ostrove, & Helson, 2001; Vaillant & Milofsky, 1980).”
Background
Gray and green?: Stewardship and sustainability in an aging society
Wright, S. D., & Lund, D. A. (2000) · Journal of Aging Studies · doi:10.1016/s0890-4065(00)08020-8 · Cited by 65
Age Differences in Motivation and Stress at Work
Hertel, G., Thielgen, M. M., Rauschenbach, C., Grube, A., Roßnagel, C. S., & Krumm, S. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-35057-3_6 · Cited by 71
Parenting styles and its relations with personal and social adjustment beyond adolescence: Is the current evidence enough?
Gimenez-Serrano, S., Pérez, J. F. G., & García, Ó. F. (2021) · European Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1080/17405629.2021.1952863 · Cited by 62
“On the one hand, the sample is composed of both adolescents and adults, and on the other hand, it organizes all the subjects into different age groups (Mcadams et al., 1993), which makes it possible to compare their results.”
Background
Filial Piety, Generativity and Older Adults’ Wellbeing and Loneliness in Denmark and China
Ren, P., Emiliussen, J., Christiansen, R., Engelsen, S., & Klausen, S. H. (2022) · Applied Research in Quality of Life · doi:10.1007/s11482-022-10053-z · Cited by 62
Valuing the Life Experience of Old Adults and Change in Depressive Symptoms
KRAUSE, N. M. (2011) · Journal of Aging and Health · doi:10.1177/0898264311412598 · Cited by 60
“Instead, as research by McAdams, Aubin, and Logan (1993) reveals, concerns above generativity are low in young adulthood, they increase in midlife, and they remain high throughout the remainder of life.”
Organizational citizenship behaviour and job satisfaction: The impact of occupational future time perspective
Weikamp, J. G., & Göritz, A. S. (2016) · Human Relations · doi:10.1177/0018726716633512 · Cited by 73
“Furthermore, helping behaviours in the form of OCBI may fulfil the needs for emotional intimacy and generativity, which become pronounced starting in middle adulthood (Carstensen et al., 1999; Kanfer and Ackerman, 2004; McAdams et al., 1993).”
Background
Sleeping with a broken promise: The moderating role of generativity concerns in the relationship between psychological contract breach and insomnia among older workers
Garcia, P., Bordia, P., Restubog, S. L. D., & Caines, V. (2017) · Journal of Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1002/job.2222 · Cited by 67
L'anxiété face à la mort et son influence sur le comportement du consommateur
Urien, B. (2003) · Recherche et Applications en Marketing (French Edition) · doi:10.1177/076737010301800402 · Cited by 58
Self‐Efficacy in Service‐Learning Community Action Research: Theory, Research, and Practice
Reeb, R. N., Folger, S. F., Langsner, S., Ryan, C. M., & Crouse, J. (2010) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-010-9342-9 · Cited by 58
“Generativity, a construct originating from Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development, is defined by contemporary theorists (e.g., McAdams et al. 1993, p. 221; also see McAdams and de St. Aubin 1992) as follows: …a configuration of psychosocial features constellated around the goal of providing…”
Background
The Positive Psychology of Adult Generativity: Caring for the Next Generation and Constructing a Redemptive Life
McAdams, D. P. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7282-7_13 · Cited by 59
Self-citation
Ego Integrity in the Lives of Older Women
James, J. B., & Zarrett, N. R. (2007) · Journal of Adult Development · doi:10.1007/s10804-006-9003-2 · Cited by 56
“…stage-theory research in general and to the understanding of EI in particular is the extent to which it reflects a middle class bias (for a general discussion of these issues, see McAdams et al., 1993), and is more prevalent among the well-educated (see also Cantor, 2001; Fiske & Chiriboga, 1990).”
Background
Generativity and Successful Parenting: An Analysis of Young Adult Outcomes
Peterson, B. E. (2006) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00394.x · Cited by 65
Increases in Generative Concern among Older Adults following Reminders of Mortality
Maxfield, M., Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Weise, D. R., Kosloff, S., Soenke, M., Abeyta, A. A., & Blatter, J. (2014) · The International Journal of Aging and Human Development · doi:10.2190/ag.79.1.a · Cited by 55
“Replicating previous research (e.g., Bellizzi, 2004; McAdams et al., 1993; Pratt et al., 1999), there were no differences in generative concern between younger and older adults in the control condition; however, when reminded of mortality, older adults indicated significantly greater concern for…”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluential
Generative Concern and Environmentalism
Jia, F., Alisat, S., Soucie, K. M., & Pratt, M. W. (2015) · Emerging Adulthood · doi:10.1177/2167696815578338 · Cited by 60

Authors: McAdams, D. P., de St. Aubin, E., & Logan, R. L.
Affiliations: Northwestern University (US)
ORCID: McAdams, Dan P.
Venue: Psychology and Aging
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1993-06
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Pages: 221-230
ISSN: 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
1939-1498
DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.8.2.221
OpenAlex: W4243999006
Cited by: 614
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 28
FWCI: 9.67
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Keywords: generativity, life stages, young adults, midlife, older adults, developmental differences
MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Aged, Aging, Aspirations, Psychological, Creativity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Goals, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Personal Satisfaction, Personality Inventory, Cohort Studies, Intergenerational Relations

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Generativity among young, midlife, and older adults

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