EXPERIENCE AND WELL-BEING - EXPLORATIONS ON DOMAINS OF LIFE AND HOW THEY MATTER

The guiding question was how past life experiences are linked with adu lts' assessments of their present and future well-being. Typical event s and transitions (normative experiences) were contrasted with atypica l stresses (non-normative experiences). A sample of 308 men and women, divided between young, midlife, and older adults, completed past life event inventories and rated themselves on multiple dimensions of well -being (concurrently and prospectively). Hierarchical regression analy ses revealed that normative events were significant predictors of mult iple aspects of present and future wellness, but there were marked age differences in which domains were key influences: For young adults, l ife activities were primary; for midlife adults, greatest variance was explained by the family and friends domain; in late life, prior work and educational experiences were strongest predictors of well-being. N on-normative events were significant positive predictors of only perso nal growth in young adults.