Getting older, getting better? Personal strivings and psychological maturity across the life span

Measures of psychological maturity based on personal strivings (R. A. Emmon s, 1989) were administered to 108 adults aged 17-82. On the basis of organi smic-theoretical assumptions regarding maturity, age was hypothesized to be positively associated with K. M. Sheldon and T. Kasser's (1995, 1998) two goal-based measures of personality integration. E. Erikson's (1963) assumpt ions regarding maturity were the basis for the hypothesis that older people would tend to list more strivings concerning generativity and ego integrit y and fewer strivings concerning identity and intimacy. Finally, on the bas is of past research findings, maturity and age were hypothesized to be posi tively associated with subjective well-being. Results supported these hypot heses and also showed that measured maturity mediated the relationship betw een age and well-being, Thus, older individuals may indeed be more psycho l ogically mature than younger people and may be happier as a result.