A1 Journal article (refereed)
Developmental Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60 : Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan (TRAILS) – latest data collection in a longitudinal JYLS study (2024)

Kokko, K., Fadjukoff, P., Reinilä, E., Ahola, J., Kinnunen, M.-L., Kroger, J., Laakkonen, E. K., Pitkänen, T., Pulkkinen, L., Rantanen, T., Staudinger, U. M., Taipale, S., Törmäkangas, T., Kekäläinen, T., & Saajanaho, M. (2024). Developmental Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60 : Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan (TRAILS) – latest data collection in a longitudinal JYLS study. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 15(2), 251-281. https://doi.org/10.1332/17579597Y2023D000000009

JYU authors or editors

Kokko, Katja
Fadjukoff, Päivi
Reinilä, Emmi
Ahola, Johanna
Laakkonen, Eija
Pulkkinen, Lea
Rantanen, Taina
Taipale, Sakari
Törmäkangas, Timo
Kekäläinen, Tiia
Saajanaho, Milla

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kokko, Katja; Fadjukoff, Päivi; Reinilä, Emmi; Ahola, Johanna; Kinnunen, Marja-Liisa; Kroger, Jane; Laakkonen, Eija K.; Pitkänen, Tuuli; Pulkkinen, Lea; Rantanen, Taina; et al.

Journal or series: Longitudinal and Life Course Studies

eISSN: 1757-9597

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 24/01/2024

Volume: 15

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 251-281

Publisher: Bristol University Press

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/17579597Y2023D000000009

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93408

Abstract

At around age 60, people are approaching late adulthood and are typically going through or anticipating life transitions such as grandparenthood, retirement, or changes in health and functioning. The timing and perception of transitions are individual and based on current circumstances and earlier life history and may link to well-being. The TRAILS (Developmental Psychological Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60: Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan) study, which is presented in the current article, examines the diversity and underlying factors of different transitions at around age 60 and how they associate with mental well-being. It also investigates whether these transitions link to personality characteristics, contextual resources, and/or societal challenges. The role of earlier life history in the studied associations requires a prospective multiwave design where the same participants are followed over time. Only a few longitudinal studies have examined the developmental pathways from childhood to the beginning of late adulthood.

The TRAILS study continues the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS). The JYLS was initiated in 1968 and includes earlier data collected from ages 8 to 50. At age 61, in 2020–21, 206 of the JYLS participants (of the initial 369 children) took part in TRAILS. The data collection included a Life Situation Questionnaire, a psychological interview, self-report inventories, a health examination and physical activity surveillance covering major areas of adult life. TRAILS extends the JYLS study to over 52 years of follow-up time and provides unique opportunities for studying individual development throughout the lifespan.

Keywords: course of life; life history; ageing; mental well-being; state of health; longitudinal research; research material