The relationship between regret and subjective well-being in middle aged women

We aimed to investigate how different coping styles for regret appraisals and experiences affect subjective well-being among middle aged women. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 40–65 year old women residing in D city and K province of South Korea. For data analysis, SPSS/WIN 21.0 was used to conduct t-tests, ANOVAs, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. We found several correlations between subjective well-being and sub-scales of regret coping styles: pursuit of alternative goals was positively correlated with life satisfaction, while ruminating on regret, goal separation, and pursuit of alternative goals were positively correlated with psychological well-being a domain of subjective well-being. The hierarchical regression analysis indicated that life satisfaction, another aspect of subjective well-being, increased with higher monthly income, lower regret intensity, and greater pursuit of alternative goals. Meanwhile, with psychological well-being, as another aspect of subjective well-being, was found to be positively predicted by better perceived health and greater rumination on regret, goal weparation and pursuit of alternative goals. These results demonstrate the need to develop and implement programs that consider the various regret coping styles to increase the standards of subjective well-being among middle aged women in South Korea.