%0 Report %D 2023 %T Changes in childhood caregiving impressions among middle-aged and older adults %A William J. Chopik %A Jeewon Oh %A Sneha R. Challa %A Hannah L. Hua %A Julia M. Maahs %A Jacqui Smith %K caregiving impressions %K divorce/separation %K Health and Retirement Study %K life span development %K reminiscence bump %X Childhood experiences and impressions are important for individuals' health and well-being—they often set the stage for how people approach relationships across the lifespan and how they make sense of their relational worlds. However, impressions of these experiences are likely not static and can change over time, even years after these experiences happened. The current study examined how impressions of parental relationships in childhood changed over time, and predictors of these changes, among middle-aged and older adults followed over a 4-year period (N = 2692; Mage = 66.67, SD = 9.15; 64.1% women). Childhood impressions of parental care were mostly stable over time, with 53.5%–65.0% of participants reporting consistent impressions. Becoming divorced/separated as an adult was associated with more negative impressions about relationships with fathers in the past. Having a mother pass away was associated with more positive impressions of mothers' caregiving when participants were children. Higher depressive symptoms at follow-up were associated with darker perceptions of the past— more negative impressions of mothers and fathers as caregivers. The current study is one of the most comprehensive studies of late-life changes in childhood impressions to date, suggesting future directions for studying the organization of relational experiences and recollection over time. %G eng %R 10.1111/pere.12499 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Research in Personality %D 2020 %T Changes in optimism and pessimism in response to life events: Evidence from three large panel studies %A William J. Chopik %A Oh, Jeewon %A Eric S Kim %A Schwaba, Ted %A Krämer, Michael D. %A Richter, David %A Jacqui Smith %K Adult personality development %K Aging %K Life events %K Lifespan development %K Optimism %K Time perspective %X Although individuals vary in how optimistic they are about the future, one assumption that researchers make is that optimism is sensitive to changes in life events and circumstances. We examined how optimism and pessimism changed across the lifespan and in response to life events in three large panel studies (combined N = 74,886). In the American and Dutch samples, we found that optimism increased across younger adulthood, plateaued in midlife, and then decreased in older adulthood. In the German sample, there were inconsistent results with respect to age differences and mean level changes in optimism. Associations between life events and changes in optimism/pessimism were inconsistent across samples. We discuss our results in the context of life events and lifespan development. %B Journal of Research in Personality %V 88 %@ 0092-6566 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jrp.2020.103985 %0 Journal Article %J Social Psychological and Personality Science %D 2015 %T Changes in Optimism Are Associated with Changes in Health Over Time Among Older Adults. %A William J. Chopik %A Eric S Kim %A Jacqui Smith %K Health Changes %K Health Conditions and Status %K Older Adults %K Optimism %X

Little is known about how optimism differs by age and changes over time, particularly among older adults. Even less is known about how changes in optimism are related to changes in physical health. We examined age differences and longitudinal changes in optimism in 9,790 older adults over a four-year period. We found an inverted U-shaped pattern between optimism and age both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, such that optimism generally increased in older adults before decreasing. Increases in optimism over a four-year period were associated with improvements in self-rated health and fewer chronic illnesses over the same time frame. The findings from the current study are consistent with changes in emotion regulation strategies employed by older adults and age-related changes in well-being.

%B Social Psychological and Personality Science %V 6 %P 814-822 %8 2015 Sep %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1177/1948550615590199