Rodgers, Lynne (2013) Goal-setting and Planning in Late Adulthood. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The approach that older adults take to planning and goal-setting in a context where future time is limited is an under-researched area. Eight participants aged 70 to 96 years were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Four superordinate themes were identified: acceptance, freedom, fear and intrinsic goals. Despite being aware of their physical ageing there was variation in how participants perceived the future and the range of options and strategies utilised to select goals. Those aged over 85 had a greater preoccupation with age-related limitations and losses, and a less orientation to futurefocussed goals, compared to those in their seventies. An important aspect to emerge was the participants’ preoccupation with avoidance goals (e.g., avoiding dementia and dependency), over approach goals (e.g., learning new skills). Participants’ utilisation of strategies to manage age-related losses and mortality awareness, have implications for the developing role of psychologists in the provision of end of life care, as well as healthy ageing interventions.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Jan du Preez |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2025 01:05 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2025 01:05 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), late adulthood, ageing, goal-setting, planning, mortality salience, fear, acceptance, intrinsic goals, freedom |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52705 |
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