Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Selection, Optimization, and Compensation at Work in Relation to Age

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

Synonyms

Action regulation; Goal setting; Life management strategy; Resource allocation

Definition

The model of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) encompasses three processes of action regulation in respect to successful aging and life-management: Selection refers to the setting and prioritization of goals, based on personal motives and preferences (elective selection) or due to perceived loss of internal or contextual resources (loss-based selection). Optimization involves the obtainment, improvement, and coordinated use of individual means to pursue important selected goals. Compensation involves the acquisition and application of alternative individual means or the utilization of external or technological aids to substitute lost means.

The Model of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation

Individual well-being and productivity across the lifespan depend largely on access to resources. In terms of the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR) resources can be considered as...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abraham, J. D., & Hansson, R. O. (1995). Successful aging at work: An applied study of selection, optimization, and compensation through impression management. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 50, 94–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajor, J. K., & Baltes, B. B. (2003). The relationship between selection optimization with compensation, conscientiousness, motivation, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63, 347–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes, P. B. (1997). On the incomplete architecture of human ontogeny: Selection, optimization, and compensation as foundation of developmental theory. American Psychologist, 52, 366–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M. M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1–34). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes, B. B., & Heydens-Gahir, H. A. (2003). Reduction of work-family conflict through the use of selection, optimization, and compensation behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 1005–1018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., & Leiter, M. (2014). Burnout and job performance: The moderating role of selection, optimization, and compensation strategies. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19, 96–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewe, P., O’Driscoll, M. P., & Cooper, C. L. (2010). Coping with work stress. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fresco, D. M., Williams, N. L., & Nugent, N. R. (2006). Flexibility and negative affect: Examining the associations of explanatory flexibility and coping flexibility to each other and to depression and anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 30, 201–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freund, A. M., & Baltes, P. B. (2002). Life-management strategies of selection, optimization and compensation: Measurement by self-report and construct validity. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 82, 642–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S. E. (2002). Social and psychological resources and adaptations. Review of General Psychology, 6, 307–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, A., Weigl, M., Heiden, B., Glaser, J., & Angerer, P. (2012). Promoting work ability and well-being in hospital nursing: The interplay of age, job control, and successful ageing strategies. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 41, 5137–5144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, A., et al. (2013a). Selection, optimization, and compensation in nursing: Exploration of job-specific strategies, scale development, and age-specific associations to work ability. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69, 1630–1642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, A., De Lange, A. H., Weigl, M., Oxfart, C., & Van der Heijden, B. (2013b). Compensating losses in bridge employment? Examining relations between compensation strategies, health problems, and intention to remain at work. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 68–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riedel, N., Müller, A., Ebener, M. (2015). Applying strategies of selection, optimization and compensation to maintain work ability – A psychosocial resource complementing the job demand-control model? Results from the representative lidA cohort study on work, age, and health in Germany. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riediger, M., Li, S.-C., & Lindenberger, U. (2006). Selection, optimization, and compensation as developmental mechanisms of adaptive resource allocation: Review and preview. In J. E. Birren & K. W. Schaie (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging (6th ed., pp. 289–314). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, A., Zacher, H., & Frese, M. (2012). The buffering effect of selection, optimization, and compensation strategy use on the relationship between problem solving demands and occupational well-being: A daily diary study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17, 139–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Bonsdorff, M. E., et al. (2014). Organizational justice, selection, optimization with compensation, and nurses’ work ability. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56, 326–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weigl, M., Müller, A., Hornung, S., Zacher, H., & Angerer, P. (2013). The moderating effects of job control and selection, optimization, and compensation strategies on the age–work ability relationship. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34, 607–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weigl, M., Müller, A., Leidenberger, M., & Heiden, B. (2014). Job resources and work engagement: The contributing role of selection, optimization, and compensation strategies at work. Journal for Labour Market Research, 47, 299–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiese, B. S., Freund, A. M., & Baltes, P. B. (2000). Selection, optimization, and compensation: An action-related approach to work and partnership. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 57, 273–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiese, B. S., Freund, A. M., & Baltes, P. B. (2002). Subjective career success and emotional well-being: Longitudinal predictive power of selection, optimization and compensation. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 60, 321–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeung, D. Y., & Fung, H. H. (2009). Aging and work: How do SOC strategies contribute to job performance across adulthood? Psychology and Aging, 24, 927–940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, L. M., Baltes, B. B., & Pratt, A. K. (2007). Using selection, optimization, and compensation to reduce job/family stressors: Effective when it matters. Journal of Business and Psychology, 21, 511–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zacher, H., & Frese, M. (2011). Maintaining a focus on opportunities at work: The interplay between age, job complexity, and the use of selection, optimization, and compensation strategies. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32, 291–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zacher, H., Chan, F., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E. (2015). Selection, optimization, and compensation strategies: Interactive effects on daily work engagement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 87, 101–107.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Andreas Müller

  2. Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

    Matthias Weigl

Authors
  1. Andreas Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Matthias Weigl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Müller .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Müller, A., Weigl, M. (2015). Selection, Optimization, and Compensation at Work in Relation to Age. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_28-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_28-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation