Sleep, Mood Affect How 'In Control' Older Adults Feel

A new study has found that sleep, mood, and stress affect the extent to which older adults feel they have control over their lives, reports ScienceDaily . Researchers studied data on 205 people between the ages of 60 and 94 over a period of three weeks. The research team focused on determining which psychological variables had an effect on two "control beliefs" — perceived competence, or an individual's sense that her or she could do the things they wanted to do; and locus of control, or the feeling that they were in control of their own lives. The researchers found that several variables have a significant effect on both beliefs. First, sleep efficacy — or the belief that one can get a good night's sleep — was associated with better control beliefs. Second, being in a good mood made people feel better about their competence and control. Third, stressful events had an adverse effect on an individual's subsequent control beliefs. "When people think they have little or no control in their lives, they may stop doing some of the everyday things that are important for self-care — because they believe those things don't matter," says Shevaun Neupert, a co-author of a paper on the work. "By acting to improve mood and sleep, older adults may better retain their sense of control and better maintain their quality of life."