GOALS FOR SOLVING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS ACROSS THE LIFE-SPAN - AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE SALIENCE OF INTERPERSONAL CONCERNS

The authors examined age and gender differences in the salience of int erpersonal concerns in individuals' representations of their own every day problems. One hundred and seven preadolescents, 128 college studen ts, 130 middle-aged adults, and 131 older adults described a problem a nd goal for dealing with that problem. Interpersonal elements of probl em descriptions and goal content and focus were coded. Interpersonal e lements of everyday problems were most salient to females and middle-a ged adults. Across age and gender, individuals reported interpersonal goals when other people were viewed as central to the problem. Age dif ferences in problem-solving goals reflected developmental life tasks. Implications for work on everyday problem solving, which has typically focused on individualistic rather than interpersonal aspects of probl em solving, are discussed.