The good old times?!: the relationship between regret and rumination in older adults

OBJECTIVES: As people age, reflecting on missed opportunities can create a self-sustaining cycle of regret and rumination, potentially affecting mental health. This study explores the relationship between regret and self-critical rumination in older adults and examines whether a general tendency to ruminate intensifies this connection. METHODS: Fifty-six older adults (aged 65 or older) completed a questionnaire assessing their trait-level tendency for self-critical rumination. They subsequently performed a sequential binary choice risk-taking task (the Devil's task), specifically designed to elicit state regret and self-critical rumination as a function of their decision outcomes. RESULTS: As expected, the worst outcomes in the task elicited the highest levels of regret, supporting the idea that regret arises from missed opportunities and blocked goal progress. Regret and self-critical rumination during the task were positively correlated. Both trait-level rumination and momentary self-critical rumination at the start of the study predicted heightened regret, and subsequent self-critical rumination, following the risk-taking computer task. However, the self-perpetuating cycle between regret and rumination occurred independently of habitual rumination tendencies, contrasting with findings in younger adults. DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the need to consider the interplay between regret and self-critical rumination in mental health interventions for older adults, regardless of their habitual tendency to ruminate.