Relationship between Decision Making Styles and Life Regrets among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

2 Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

Abstract

Older adults have to take several decisions during their life. The older adults' distinctive
manner and style of identifying and reacting to decision-making tasks is expected to yield some
decision outcomes which may induce feeling of regret. Regret which is a hurting feeling in old age
can ultimately impacts the individual’s well-being. Objective: Determine the relationship between
decision making styles and life regrets among community dwelling older adults. Setting: outpatient
clinics of Farouk hospital, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: 205 older
adults. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: 1) Socio-demographic data structured
interview schedule 2) Decision Making Questionnaire DMQ, and 3) Life Regrets Scale. Results: The
present study findings showed that the study subjects showed different levels of life regrets which are
significantly correlated with the manner they habitually approach and manage their decisions
(decision making styles). Conclusion: Greater life regrets among the study subjects were associated
with the usage of certain decision making styles such as instinctiveness and social resistance.
Whereas, thoroughness, perfectionism and control styles are significantly related to lower life regrets
among the study subjects. Recommendations: The gerontological nurses should assess the decision
making skills and styles of the older adults. They should assume their role in helping older adults to
learn new decision making styles in order to improve their decisions outcomes and prevent future
regrets.

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