Control striving in older adults with serious health problems: A 9-year longitudinal study of survival, health, and well-being.
The present longitudinal study of 143 older adults (73-98 years) with serious health problems (arthritis, heart disease, heart attack, stroke) examined the effects of goal engagement, disengagement, and self-protection control strategies on self-rated physical health (condition severity, functional status) and subjective well-being (life satisfaction) at 5 years and survival at 9 years. Main effects and interactions between strategy use and the occurrence of an acute vascular event (no, yes) as well as age (young-old vs. old-old) were assessed. As hypothesized, goal engagement predicted greater survival for individuals with acute conditions but poorer physical health for those with chronic conditions and among old-old adults. In contrast, goal disengagement predicted poorer physical health for those with acute conditions but better health for individuals with chronic conditions and old-old adults. Self-protective strategies (positive reappraisal) predicted greater survival, health, and subjective well-being for those with acute conditions, as well as better physical health for old-old adults.
Hall
Nathan C
NC
Department of Human Development, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-1821, USA. halln@umd.edu
Chipperfield
Judith G
JG
Heckhausen
Jutta
J
Perry
Raymond P
RP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role