The effects of a control-enhancing intervention for nursing home residents: cognition and locus of control as moderators.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to clarify which older adults benefit most from a control-enhancing intervention; in particular, whether cognitive functioning or locus of control might moderate the benefit derived.


METHODS
Nursing home residents were randomly assigned to two conditions: (1) a control-enhanced condition that provided the option of caring for a plant (n=10), and (2) a comparison condition that monitored any change under the standard of care (n=10). Comparison group participants were subsequently offered the intervention, which led to a total of 17 intervention participants.


RESULTS
Cognitive function and locus of control were found to significantly moderate the effects of the control-enhancing intervention on residents' perceived health competency, but not depression or life satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions for nursing home residents could be tailored to fit specific needs. Screening for cognitive function and locus of control may help predict who is likely to benefit from control-enhancing interventions.
Anderson-Hanley
Cay
C
Department of Psychology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866, USA. chanley@skidmore.edu
Meshberg
Sarah R
SR
Marsh
Melissa A
MA
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010944:Plants