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Pachana NA, Baumeister RF. Better Later Than Never: Meaning in Late Life. Front Psychol. 2021;12:693116doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116.
Pachana, N. A., & Baumeister, R. F. (2021). Better Later Than Never: Meaning in Late Life. Frontiers in psychology, 12693116. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116
Pachana, Nancy A, and Baumeister, Roy F. "Better Later Than Never: Meaning in Late Life." Frontiers in psychology vol. 12 (2021): 693116. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116
Pachana NA, Baumeister RF. Better Later Than Never: Meaning in Late Life. Front Psychol. 2021 Jul 02;12:693116. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34282356; PMCID: PMC8285729.
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Front Psychol. 2021 Jul 02;12:693116. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116. eCollection 2021.

Better Later Than Never: Meaning in Late Life.

Frontiers in psychology

Nancy A Pachana, Roy F Baumeister

Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

PMID: 34282356 PMCID: PMC8285729 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693116

Abstract

The quest for meaning in life takes on new challenges and directions during late life. This mini-review draws on prior theory to analyze meaningfulness into six discrete dimensions (purpose, value, efficacy, self-worth, mattering, and comprehension) and covers research into how these apply and operate specifically during late life. Limited remaining time, concern with one's legacy, concerns with self-continuity and integration, variable challenges to self-worth, and prioritization of positivity emerge as key themes.

Copyright © 2021 Pachana and Baumeister.

Keywords: aging; late life; mattering; meaning; purpose; value

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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