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Perceived Personal Control Buffers Terminal Decline in Well-Being

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  • Gerstorf, Denis
  • Heckhausen, Jutta
  • Ram, Nilam
  • Infurna, Frank J.
  • Schupp, Jürgen
  • Wagner, Gert

Abstract

Recent research has repeatedly demonstrated that well-being typically evinces precipitous deterioration close to the end of life. However, the determinants of individual differences in these terminal declines are not well understood. In this study, we examine the role of perceived personal control as a potential buffer against steep terminal declines in well-being. We applied single- and multiphase growth models to up to 25-year longitudinal data from 1,641 now-deceased participants of the national German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP; age at death: M = 74 years; SD = 14; 49% women). Results revealed that perceiving more personal control over one’s life was related to subsequently higher late-life well-being, less severe rates of late-life declines, and a later onset of terminal decline. Associations were independent of key predictors of mortality, including age, gender, SES, and disability. These findings suggest that feeling in control may ameliorate steep end-of-life decline in well-being. We also discuss scenarios for when and how processes of goal disengagement and giving up control may become beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerstorf, Denis & Heckhausen, Jutta & Ram, Nilam & Infurna, Frank J. & Schupp, Jürgen & Wagner, Gert, 2014. "Perceived Personal Control Buffers Terminal Decline in Well-Being," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 29(3), pages 612-625.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:104018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Spieß & Martin Kroh & Rainer Pischner & Gert G. Wagner, 2008. "On the Treatment of Non-Original Sample Members in the German Household Panel Study (SOEP): Tracing, Weighting, and Frequencies," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 98, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    2. Denis Gerstorf & Nilam Ram & Guy Mayraz & Mira Hidajat & Ulman Lindenberger & Gert G. Wagner & Jürgen Schupp, 2010. "Late-Life Decline in Well-Being across Adulthood in Germany, the UK, and the US: Something Is Seriously Wrong at the End of Life," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 286, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Shevaun D. Neupert & David M. Almeida & Susan Turk Charles, 2007. "Age Differences in Reactivity to Daily Stressors: The Role of Personal Control," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(4), pages 216-225.
    4. Frank J. Infurna & Denis Gerstorf & Nilam Ram & Jürgen Schupp & Gert G. Wagner, 2011. "Long-Term Antecedents and Outcomes of Perceived Control," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 355, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    5. Oliver Schilling, 2006. "Development of Life Satisfaction in Old Age: Another View on the "Paradox''," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 241-271, January.
    6. Kunz-Ebrecht, Sabine R. & Kirschbaum, Clemens & Steptoe, Andrew, 2004. "Work stress, socioeconomic status and neuroendocrine activation over the working day," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(8), pages 1523-1530, April.
    7. Ed Diener & Ronald Inglehart & Louis Tay, 2013. "Theory and Validity of Life Satisfaction Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 497-527, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giacomo Degli Antoni & Chiara Franco, 2022. "The effect of technological behaviour and beliefs on subjective well-being: the role of technological infrastructure," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 553-590, April.
    2. Ina Schöllgen & Denis Gerstorf & Jutta Heckhausen, 2014. "Control Strivings in the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 727, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Jeongsoo Park & Thomas M. Hess & Helene H. Fung & Anna Kornadt & Klaus Rothermund, 2022. "A longitudinal study of the effects of well-being and perceived control on preparations for old age: moderation effects of contexts," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1429-1440, December.

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