Economic theory predicts that more choice is beneficial for both individuals and society. However, research suggests that too many options can lead to “choice overload”, a phenomenon where individuals feel overwhelmed, potentially leading to lower choice satisfaction, and making poorer decisions (Schwartz, 2004). Although not as universal as initially believed, research suggests that certain circumstances tend to induce choice overload (Scheibehenne, Greifeneder & Todd, 2010). We investigated if the number of alternatives in choosing eldercare provider influenced satisfaction with eldercare decisions.Two samples of adults were used: one Swedish (n=176, age; range=19–86, m=47, sd=19, 38% men) and one from the U.S. (n= 156, age; range 24–75, m=47, sd=14, 55% men). We measured cognitive functioning (numeracy and memory), as well as self-rated health. We presented participants with information about 4, 8, or 12 different eldercare facilities and asked them to choose one. After completing the task, we measured participant satisfaction on a seven-point scale.More alternatives were not related to less satisfaction overall, however, more options had a negative impact on satisfaction among participants with low self-rated health. We found no effects of age or cognitive ability on choice overload. However, we found an age-related positivity-bias indicating that older adults rated their choices as overall more positive compared to younger participants.The finding that more alternatives were related to less satisfaction in participants with lower self-rated health is of importance in eldercare settings where the majority needs to make these decisions because of compromised health and functioning.
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