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Possible Selves and Health Behaviors in Later Life

Syracuse University

Cheryl R. Kaus, PhD

State University of New York at Oswego

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-regulatory processes were related to health behaviors in a sample of older adults. We hypothesized that individuals with a possible self in the domain of health would be motivated to engage in health-protective behaviors and thus score more highly on a health behaviors inventory. We also predicted that self-regulatory variables rated in relationship to health-related possible selves would explain a significant amount of variance in health behavior scores. Analyses largely supported these predictions and showed that these self-system variables were more predictive of health behaviors than were global health values. There were differential findings for positive health motivations as opposed to disease avoidance motivations. Results are discussed in reference to the literature on health behavior and aging.

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