Using the concept of "retirement congruency" (RC), which takes into account greater variation in retirement decisions (low, moderate, or high RC) than a dichotomous conceptualization (forced versus chosen), multinomial logistic regression was conducted on a sample of caregivers from the 2002 Canadian General Social Survey who were…

Social support has been shown to buffer the relationship between life stress and psychological distress in late life. However, little attention has been paid to personality variables that are associated with the capacity to effectively utilize social support. Although the buffering effects of social support were replicated in our sample of 134…

Young adults in Canada (N = 161) and South Korea (N = 165) rated either themselves or typical others at target ages 25, 45, and 65 years. In both countries, poorer memory was anticipated with each increase in age on all 3 memory belief factors: capacity, change, and locus. Both groups demonstrated a self-protective bias about age-related decline,…

The present research examined the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic goal attainment on older adults' ego-integrity, psychological well-being, and death attitudes. Hypotheses were derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Vansteenkiste, Ryan, & Deci, in press). Study 1 (N = 202, Mean age = 68.2 years) indicated that, after…

High sense of control is related to benefits in many aspects of life, and education is known to be strongly related to sense of control. In this article we explore why women tend to feel a lower sense of control than men, and why the sense of control tends to be lower among the elderly than among younger people. In particular we explore the role…

Being discriminated against is an unpleasant and stressful experience, and its connection to reduced psychological well-being is well-documented. The present study hypothesized that a sense of control would serve as both mediator and moderator in the dynamics of perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. In addition, variations by age,…

Explored the effects of locus of control and severity of hearing impairment on amount of denial in 39 older adults with hearing loss. Results suggested that locus of control and severity may affect the amount of denial exhibited to some extent, but other factors enter into the relationship. (JAC)

Examined relationship between locus of control and self-reported psychopathology in 139 residents of retirement complex. Correlation coefficients computed for locus of control and each of nine symptom dimensions of the Brief Symptom Inventory indicated that locus of control was correlated with self-reported psychopatholgoy for older women but not…

Contrary to an earlier report, this study showed that life satisfaction of 56 institutionalized elderly women was associated with internality. Satisfaction was inversely related to their perception of institutional constraints, its most powerful determinant. (Author)

Classified 305 students and 117 elderly according to Levenson's Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance scales. Additional measures were completed by 120 subjects. Results showed the elderly sample was more external. High internality and lower belief in powerful others were linked with low depression in the elderly. (JAC)

Examined Rotter's Internal-External locus of control concept in relation to life satisfaction and death anxiety in aged population (N=122). Found strong gender and locus of control effect for life satisfaction. For death anxiety, found strong gender effect and significant interaction between locus of control and age. Suggests need for life span…

We examined short-term changes in younger and older adults' control beliefs. Participants completed measures of general and memory-specific competence and locus of control on 10 bi-monthly occasions. At each occasion, participants rated their control beliefs prior to and following completion of a battery of cognitive tasks. Exposure to the set of…

In a study assessing the psychological effects of exercise in the elderly, a 14-week aerobic program for older adults (N=23) produced a significant increase in self-concept and a significantly greater perceived internal locus of control. Improvement in memory was not found. (Author)

Examined age differences in life satisfaction, self-concept, and locus of control in males and females between the ages of 14 and 94 years. Age main effect was significant for locus of control, age and sex main effects were significant for self-concept, and age and sex main effects and their interaction were significant for life satisfaction.…

Applied life-span construct model by administering life drawing to 78 older women. Quantitative findings indicated that more positively adjusted women maintained external locus of control, were future oriented, and defined life-span in terms of family. Qualitative data revealed that women who described their lives in positive terms were those who…