The advantages of aging: greater stability of self-representation in older adults is linked to higher well-being

OBJECTIVES: Maintaining a coherent, stable sense of self is critical to well-being, particularly in older adulthood. Yet, little research has examined the objective stability of self-representation across the lifespan. In this study, we investigated how self-representation stability differs between younger and older adults, is supported by autobiographical memory in the laboratory and in daily life, and predicts well-being. METHODS: This observational study included younger (n = 51, aged 18-35) and older (n = 126, aged 60-90) adults. Outcome variables included personality, well-being, in-lab autobiographical memory, and naturalistic autobiographical thought. Using robust quantile regression, analyses examined age-group differences and interactions across self-representation stability, well-being, and autobiographical memory. RESULTS: We observed that self-representation stability: (1) was higher in older adults, (2) predicted well-being across participants, (3) was not significantly related to in-lab autobiographical memory, and (4) was higher in younger adults who had more autobiographical thoughts in daily life. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest a link between self-representation stability and well-being, with age-related differences in its cognitive mechanisms. These findings further underscore an important positive of aging and offer insight into the connection between autobiographical processes and self-representation stability.