CORRELATES OF LOCUS OF DESIRED CONTROL IN 2 SAMPLES OF ELDERLY PERSONS - COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS

Describes the correlates of a new measure of desired control in 2 groups of elderly persons. Study 1 examined the desired control correlates for 88 elderly community residents (mean age 75 yrs). As predicted, desired control was significantly negatively correlated with depression and positively correlated with health, knowledge of services for the elderly, and use of services for the elderly. Study 2 examined the correlates of desired control for 77 male patients in a chronic care hospital ward (mean age 72 yrs). Desired control was significantly correlated with 4 of 5 indices of psychological adjustment. The 2 studies together indicate the breadth of relationships of desired control to diverse aspects of psychological well-being, including a measure of subjective senescence. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.