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From the Great Depression to the Globalization: Benefits and pitfalls of longitudinal studies observing humans in a society in transition
Millová, Katarína
Historical events, such as wars, changes in political systems or economic changes may take a relatively short time, but their impact can be very dramatic. The result is long-term changes not only in the transition society itself, but also on the individual level. A man's life is influenced by them variously, often according to age at which the change occurred. In addition to social aspects of one's life, psychological aspects are also affected (subjective well-being, values, aspirations, etc.). Most of the macro-social changes cannot be predicted sufficiently long time ahead. Thus, most of longitudinal studies examining changes in psychological characteristics before the transition and after it were more or less fortuitous. Therefore, only a few longitudinal studies had the opportunity to capture the dynamics of changes in psychological characteristics of ordinary people living in societies that have undergone some macro-social change.
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Self-regulation strategies in adulthood: Selection, optimization, and compensation in emerging and middle adulthood
Millová, Katarína
Self-regulation strategies are important especially during periods when a person goes through different life transitions. The extent to which they are used in life course is changing. This study (N = 185; 109 young adults, aged 20 to 25 years; 76 middle-aged adults, aged 47 to 50 years) was based on Baltes' theory of selective optimization with compensation (SOC). In both age groups we investigated the employment of three self-regulation mechanisms: selection, optimization, and compensation (i.e. life-management strategies). In general, young adults tended to use all of these strategies less than middle-aged adults. Their level of elective selection and compensation was below average. On the contrary, middle-aged adults were more likely to employ especially loss-based selection and optimization. Between-subject t test revealed significant differences between young adults and middle-aged adults in elective selection (t = -1,93; p < 0,01), loss-based selection (t = -1,52; p < 0,01), and optimization (t = -2,22; p < 0,01). No differences were found in compensation. In all detected significant differences, older group reached higher. Our results support previous findings of increased use of life-management strategies in middle-aged adults. They also bring some insight into the dynamics of these strategies over the life course.
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Character strengths in the context of life-management strategies
Millová, Katarína ; Slezáčková, A. ; Blatný, Marek
In our study we came out of the assumption that life-management strategies (selection, optimization and compensation) significantly contribute to the human strengths. The aim was to determine to what extent these strategies explain the strengths (e.g., hope, gratitude, curiosity) even when we include personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism). We obtained data from 83 participants of Brno Longitudinal Study (BLS; 48 women, 47-50 years old). We used the following methods: SOC Questionnaire (SOC), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EOD), Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), Adult Hope Scale, Grit and Ambition Scale, Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI II) and Strengths Use and Current Knowledge Scale (SUCK). Regression analysis showed that the life-management strategies (especially optimization) were significant predictors of all investigated human strengths. Even after inclusion of extraversion and neuroticism explain these strategies significantly more variability, concretely in hope, curiosity and grit. It seems that human strengths are connected not only with personality variables, but also with self-regulatory characteristics.
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Psychological predictors and correlates of subjectively assessed health problems: a longitudinal perspective
Slezáčková, Alena ; Millová, Katarína ; Blatný, Marek ; Jelínek, Martin
The study examines the psychological correlates of health problems in people of middle age and their predictors in adolescence. The sample consisted of 74 participants (32 men and 42 woman aged from 41 to 44 years) who participate in the longitudinal study running from 1961. An analysis of data obtained using the methods EPI, SOC, NEO, TCI, Logo-test and Health questionnaire revealed that the most significant predictor of health problems in adulthood is extraversion at age 16. We found in middle age connections between psychosomatic problems and the degree of extraversion, neuroticism, Sense of Coherence and self-directedness. Specific health problems (pain, shortness of breath) in middle age are also connected to the degree of existential frustration and self-directedness. The results of this study highlight the importance of studying the psychological correlates and predictors of health status of individuals in adulthood.
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Predictors of career orientation from the perspective of 50 year longitudinal study
Millová, Katarína ; Blatný, Marek ; Jelínek, Martin ; Šolcová, Iva
The study deals with the psychological and environmental predictors and correlates of career orientation in middle adulthood. The sample consisted of 74 participants (32 men, 42 women; 41-44 years) who participate in the longitudinal study running from 1961. Atmosphere in the family of origin, intelligence and school success at 12 years predict only educational level in adulthood, but not career orientation indexed by stability of career line and long-term unemployment. Concurrently, educational level in adulthood is slightly related to career orientation. The stability of career line, is influenced also by personality characteristics measured in middle adolescence, especially by extraversion. Highly extraverted adolescents had variable (but not unstable) career line in their middle adulthood. Career orientation was associated with risk behavior and with sense of coherence: risk behavior was connected to long-term unemployment and sense of coherence to stability of career line.
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