This article examines the relationship between life goals at thirty and perceptions of goal attainment, happiness, and life satisfaction at seventy for gifted men and women. Respondents were members of the Terman Study of the Gifted. Men and women differed in life goals at age thirty, with men predominantly oriented toward occupational pursuit, and women predominantly oriented toward home and family life. Results showed a significant sex difference in feelings of goal attainment at age seventy, with men reporting greater attainment. Women with occupational goals at age thirty reported lower feelings of goal attainment at age seventy than women without such goals. For men, a positive relationship was found between satisfaction and happiness at age seventy and feelings of goal attainment. For women, these relationships varied according to life goals at age thirty. The implications of these results are discussed.
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