Stability in perceived control: implications for health among very old community-dwelling adults.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to examine how stability/variability in perceptions of control (PC) relate to a variety of health-related variables.


METHODS
PC stability/variability across multiple domains was assessed in a longitudinal design including 318 adults, 72 to 99 years of age.


METHODS
PC and health-related measures were obtained during in-person interviews conducted approximately 3 months apart. PC variability was assessed in relation to self-reported health outcomes (perceived health, chronic health conditions, functional status) and objective measures of physician visits and hospitalizations recorded over a 4-year period in a highly reliable and comprehensive database.


RESULTS
PC variability was associated with poorer health, poorer functional status, and more physician visits and hospital admissions, even after statistically controlling for mean PC level and direction-of-change in PC.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that health and well-being among very old individuals may be compromised by fluctuating levels of PC, or conversely, that stability in PC enhances health.
Chipperfield
Judith G
JG
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; chipper@ms.umanitoba.ca.
Campbell
Darren W
DW
Perry
Raymond P
RP
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D005544:Forecasting; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors