Action (vs. state) orientation describes the ability to modulate affect and is at the core of goal-directed self-regulation. However, evidence on stability and change over time is scarce. In Study 1 (N = 368 couples), we investigated measurement invariance of action orientation (measured with the ACS-90) as well as rank-order stability and mean-level change over a period of four years. We report results from three samples with young adults (Study 2). Measurement invariance was obtained for an adjusted ACS-90 scale after removing 4 items. Rank-order stability was high. In both studies, one of two subscales – prospective action orientation – increased over time. Positive change was most consistent for middle-aged adults, implying that self-regulatory abilities improve during middle adulthood.

行动（相对于状态）的取向描述了调节情绪的能力，并且是目标导向的自我调节的核心。但是，缺乏稳定和随时间变化的证据。在研究1（N = 368对）中，我们调查了行动方向的测量不变性（使用ACS-90测量）以及四年内的等级稳定性和平均水平变化。我们报告了三个年轻人样本的结果（研究2）。去除4个项目后，对于调整后的ACS-90标度获得测量不变性。等级稳定性高。在两项研究中，两个次级量表之一-前瞻性行动取向-随着时间的推移而增加。积极的变化对于中年成年人最为一致，这意味着中年成年后自我调节能力得到了改善。