What Makes Seniors Feel in Control?

A study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences found sleep, mood, and stress influence older adults' sense of control, reports U.S. News & World Report . The researchers analyzed data on 205 people, 60 to 94 years old, covering a spectrum of psychological variables on eight days over a three-week period. The goal was to determine which, if any, variables shaped two "control" beliefs: a person's sense that they can do the things they want to do and the sense that they are in control of their own lives. "We know there are things people can do to improve their mood and to improve their sleep," says North Carolina State University (NCSU) Professor Shevaun Neupert. "And while sleep and mood are things most people think are important, this study highlights a very specific reason that they are important. 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." NCSU's Shenghao Zhang adds that "being in a good mood made people feel better about their competence and control, while being in a bad mood made people feel worse about those things."