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Sense of Control and Self-Reported Health in a Population-Based Sample of Older Americans: Assessment of Potential Confounding by Affect, Personality, and Social Support

Abstract

Background  

Sense of control has been linked to improved health outcomes, but it is unclear if this association is independent of other
psychosocial factors.

Purpose  

The aim of this study is to test the strength of association between sense of control and self-reported health after adjustment
for positive and negative affect, “Big 5” personality factors, and social support.

Method  

Data on sense of control (measured by personal mastery, perceived constraints, and a health-specific rating of control), affect,
personality, social support, and two measures of self-reported health (global rating of fair or poor health and presence of
functional limitations) were obtained on 6,891 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a population-based survey
of older Americans. The cross-sectional association between sense of control measures and each measure of self-reported health
was tested in hierarchical logistic regression models, before and after adjustment for affect, personality, and social support.

Results  

Participants with higher personal mastery were less likely to report fair/poor health (odds ratio 0.76 per 1-point increase)
while those with higher perceived constraints were more likely to report fair/poor health (odds ratio 1.37 per 1-point increase).
Associations remained after adjustment for affect, but adjustment for affect attenuated the association of personal mastery
by 37% and of perceived constraints by 67%. Further adjustment for personality and social support did not alter the strength
of association. Findings were similar for the health-specific rating of control, and for associations with functional limitations.

Conclusion  

Sense of control is associated with self-reported health in older Americans, but this association is partly confounded by
affect.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Pages 1-8
  • DOI 10.1007/s12529-011-9218-x
  • Authors
    • Michael M. Ward, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 CRC, Room 4-1339, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
    • Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
    • Online ISSN 1532-7558
    • Print ISSN 1070-5503
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 01/31/2012 | Link to this post on IFP |
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