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Perceived personal control buffers terminal decline in well-being
Denis Gerstorf1, Jutta Heckhausen2, Nilam Ram3
1Humboldt University.
Feeling in control enhances late-life well-being and delays decline near death. This study highlights perceived personal control as a key factor in maintaining well-being during end-of-life transitions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Well-being often declines sharply near the end of life.
- Factors influencing individual differences in these terminal declines are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate perceived personal control as a buffer against end-of-life well-being deterioration.
- To analyze its impact on the trajectory and onset of terminal decline.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of up to 25 years of data from 1,641 deceased participants in the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP).
- Application of single- and multiphase growth models.
Main Results:
- Higher perceived personal control was associated with better late-life well-being.
- Greater control predicted slower rates of decline and a later onset of terminal decline.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and disability.
Conclusions:
- Perceived personal control may mitigate steep declines in well-being at the end of life.
- Understanding when goal disengagement and relinquishing control become adaptive is crucial.
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