| Sumario: | Background/Study Context: The authors developed and tested a model to examine the developmental self-regulatory pathways that lead to optimal eudaimonic well-being across adulthood. Methods: Measures of goal adjustment, optimization, possible selves, and well-being were obtained from 590 adults ranging in age from 17 to 94. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the whether there were age-differential pathways among the developmental self-regulatory processes and well-being. Results: The model predicts interactions among age, hoped-for possible selves, age-sensitive developmental processes (i.e., goal adjustment, optimization), and psychological well-being. Results showed direct effects of goal adjustment on well-being and indirect effects of goal adjustment and optimization on well-being through hoped-for possible selves. There were significant age differences in the indirect effects of goal adjustment on possible selves and well-being, such that, by age 55, these pathways disappear, and the role of future self-representations diminish. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the role of possible selves in regulating self-motivated development changes across the adult life span.
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