Future Time Perspective as a Moderator of the Associations between Own Age-Related Communication and Aging Efficacy

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, older adults’ future time perspective was examined as a moderator of the associations between their age-related communication and aging efficacy. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that aging efficacy was consistently high when older adults viewed their future as expansive, regardless of their tendency to communicate as a gloomy ager or an engaged ager. Conversely, the tendency to communicate as a gloomy ager was negatively associated with aging efficacy for older adults who viewed their future as restricted. The tendency to communicate as an engaged ager was positively associated with aging efficacy for older adults who viewed their future as restricted. Age-related communication may increase in potency when people perceive their life as nearing an end.