Purpose. Research on successful aging (SA) lay theories examines how elders negotiate the process of aging in general, but lacks a temporal distinction regarding past versus present SA strategies. Research on regrets related to aging well can contribute to SA theory by discerning past strategies elders deem relevant to SA. Despite the theoretical relevance of regret to SA, scholars admit knowing little about age differences in regrets among elders.

Methods. This cross-sectional, mixed methods study analyzes responses to open- and closed-ended questions on elders' regrets and life satisfaction (LS) from a national survey. Content analysis is used to describe regrets among a nationally representative convenience sample of 1256 European- and African-American elders age 75 to 98. A biopsychosocial framework of elders' regret domains is compared to Rowe and Kahn's (1998) model of SA. Logistic regression is used to understand factors related to the presence, number, and content of regret, and how regret relates to LS, a psychosocial SA indicator.

Results. Most elders indicate having one to three regrets. Elders' regrets center on finances, education, health, self, work, and personal relationships. The study supports Rowe and Kahn's model of SA, but adds three new domains of Practical resources/finances, Self, and Spirituality/religiosity, and three meta-themes of retirement planning, self-actualization, and decision-making. Being younger (p ≤ .001), depressed (p ≤ .05), and having declines in money (p ≤ .001) and mobility (p ≤ .001) significantly increase the chances for regret among elders. Elders with regret have over a two times greater chance of having lower LS than elders without regret (p ≤ .05). Major findings underscore the importance of finances and retirement planning, life events, and gender to SA.

Conclusions. Social workers need to assess for regret among elders and define a professional role in retirement planning. Findings suggest a need for policy advocacy regarding income maintenance for the old-old. The study proposes a Temporal Theory of Successful Aging (TTSA) that distinguishes past from present SA domains. Future research should develop a clinical protocol for assessing and treating regret among elders and document the financial needs of the old-old amidst possible reporting stigma.