Goals for solving everyday problems across the life span: Age and gender differences in the salience of interpersonal concerns

The authors examined age and gender differences in the salience of interpersonal concerns in individuals' representations of their own everyday problems. One hundred and seven preadolescents, 128 college students, 130 middle-aged adults, and 131 older adults described a problem and goal for dealing with that problem. Interpersonal elements of problem descriptions and goal content and focus were coded. Interpersonal elements of everyday problems were most salient to females and middle-aged adults. Across age and gender, individuals reported interpersonal goals when other people were viewed as central to the problem. Age differences in problem-solving goals reflected developmental life tasks. Implications for work on everyday problem solving, which has typically focused on individualistic rather than interpersonal aspects of problem solving, are discussed.