Is internal-external control an age-related variable?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• The concept of internal-external control (I-E) has been extensively studied in younger populations.
• Previous research indicates I-E relates to factors like age, education, and self-confidence in children and college students.
• It remains unclear if these relationships hold true for older adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the meaning of internal-external control (I-E) differs across age groups.
• To examine the relationship between I-E and demographic/psychological variables in parents of college students.
• To test the hypothesis that I-E is an age-related construct.

Main Methods:

• The study surveyed 95 fathers and 107 mothers of college students (mean ages 48 and 46, respectively).
• Participants' internal-external control (I-E) orientation was assessed.
• Relationships between I-E and variables such as age, education, socioeconomic status, and self-confidence were analyzed.

Main Results:

• With the exception of father's education, no significant relationships were found between internal-external control (I-E) and other examined variables in the parent group.
• This suggests that factors related to I-E in younger individuals may not be relevant for older adults.
• The findings support I-E as an age-related variable.

Conclusions:

• Generalizations from studies on younger populations regarding internal-external control (I-E) may not be applicable to older adults.
• The meaning and dynamics of I-E warrant further investigation in older age groups.
• Internal-external control (I-E) appears to be a developmental construct influenced by age.