Perceived Control and Aging: A Mini-Review and Directions for Future Research

Abstract

This brief review on perceived control and aging is organized according to 3 perspectives of research involving description, explanation, and modification. An extensive body of literature has utilized cross-sectional and correlational methods to describe the sociodemographic variations and outcomes associated with perceived control. This work has focused on differences in perceived control as a function of age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, and culture and has identified positive associations with many aging-related outcomes involving health and well-being. With growing evidence regarding the health benefits of perceived control in the context of a declining sense of control with aging, there has been an increased effort to uncover the mechanisms involved, with the hopes of developing methods to maintain and/or promote adaptive control beliefs throughout adulthood. Through longitudinal and experimental work, researchers are beginning to clarify the directionality and elucidate the mechanisms to explain the associations. Recent evidence from longitudinal studies shows that control beliefs have an impact on subsequent changes in health. Yet, the findings suggest that it is not a unidirectional relationship. A conceptual model suggesting an ongoing reciprocal relationship between perceived control and health and well-being is discussed. Research examining the mechanisms that link perceived control to aging-related outcomes can help to inform and to develop effective interventions that are tailored to the individual's specific barriers and goals. We consider new directions for research, including more attention to intraindividual variability and reactivity to daily challenges, such as stress, with the goal of advancing our understanding of how perceived control contributes to aging-related outcomes. More work is needed to develop strategies to enhance control beliefs in later life. Although it will not always be possible to modify control beliefs, researchers can take these beliefs into account when developing interventions. A personalized approach is recommended as a way to tailor interventions that are compatible with individuals' beliefs about control to facilitate adaptive behavior change. Conclusions focus on selected issues and considerations for future research.

The health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee women in their reproductive age

“…However, with increasing age and length of marriage, women usually develop better adaptation to the increased demands of the family. Age-related changes in coping and adaptation show a curvilinear pattern over the life course, with a peak in midlife and declines in older age (Robinson & Lachman, 2017).…”

Elite swimmers’ internal markers trajectories in ecological training conditions

“…However, if PC plays a positive role during the tapering phase, it must be noted that athletes with high PC will also be exposed to higher initial perturbations in their stress‐recovery balance (Table ), making them an at‐risk population during the early training process (ie, generally corresponding to the development period). This point can be explained by the fact that individuals that have higher PC are characterized by a stronger belief in their own abilities or efforts about the extent to which they can bring about desired outcomes . This can lead to a strong engagement to the task which can explain higher stress‐recovery balance perturbation during heavy training periods.…”

“…Perceived control (PC) can be defined as individuals’ expectations about the extent to which one can bring about desired outcomes . This includes beliefs about one’s abilities or efforts as well as expectancies about the constraints or difficulties that may interfere with or prevent successful goal attainment . Based on the literature, it is clear that high level of PC facilitates positive health outcomes (ie, by playing a protective role against declines in physical functioning, progression of disease burden, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality causes) and affect the intensity of both psychological and physiological responses to stress .…”

Cultural Variability in the Association Between Age and Well-Being: The Role of Uncertainty Avoidance

“…4 Because we found that sense of control was a key mediator in Study 1, we investigated stress-coping strategies to further discern why the relationship between age and well-being differs in cultures high and low in uncertainty avoidance. Sense of control is closely related to the coping strategies individuals use in times of stress (Robinson & Lachman, 2017); higher control is associated with active management of problems and one’s state of mind, whereas lower control is associated with avoiding problems and eschewing stressors (e.g., Ben-Zur, 2002). Coping strategies associated with high and low sense of control, in turn, have implications for well-being, and high-control coping tends to have better outcomes for the individual (Aspinwall & Taylor, 1992; Holahan & Moos, 1987).…”

“…In Study 2, we explored the relationship between age and well-being in a country low in uncertainty avoidance (the United States) and a country high in uncertainty avoidance (Romania) to conceptually replicate the pattern of results found in Study 1 and to further investigate the mechanism underlying the cultural difference. Sense of control, as a psychological resource, is closely associated with how individuals cope with stress (Holahan & Moos, 1987; Robinson & Lachman, 2017). Thus, we focused on the coping strategies people use in times of stress to advance a mechanistic understanding of our findings.…”