Perceived Retrospective Change of Self among the Middle-Aged in the Kibbutz

Abstract

Self-appraisals of retrospective change were obtained from 100 middle-aged persons, members of 10 preselected kibbutzim. With reference to 32 self-attributes, respondents indicated the direction and amount of change they perceived in themselves, compared to what they were like 10 years ago. Most respondents perceived little or no change: the transition to middle age evidently has not disrupted their sense of continuity. A summary score of the absolute amount of change reported for the 32 items demonstrated a high level of internal consistency. Regression analyses of this summary score revealed that (a) the lower the amount of reported change, the higher the level of both self-perceived adjustment and adjustment as rated by peers; (b) minimal perceived change of self characterizes individuals who joined the kibbutz at an earlier age and had more formal education. Respondents tended to evaluate changes in themselves as being positive. Implications for studies of the sense of continuity during the life span were discussed.