Patterns of Perceived Control That Buffer Against Cognitive Decline in Midlife and Old Age
Jeremy M Hamm1, Jennifer R Turner2, Margie E Lachman3
1Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
Summary
Perceptions of control in family and work domains buffer against cognitive decline, particularly in older age. These patterns of control influence emotional well-being and health outcomes across the lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Domain-general control beliefs are linked to cognition.
- How domain-general beliefs interact with domain-specific control in key life areas to influence cognitive aging is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify multifaceted patterns of control by combining domain-general and domain-specific perceptions.
- To examine how these control profiles influence cognitive aging trajectories from midlife into old age.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 9-year longitudinal data from the Midlife in the United States Study (N=2,734).
- Identified control profiles using factor mixture models based on domain-general and domain-specific control measures.
- Assessed differences in 9-year cognitive aging trajectories (executive functioning) across profiles.
Main Results:
- Four control profiles emerged: low control, family control, work control, and domain-specific control.
- Family and work control profiles showed the least decline in executive functioning over 9 years.
- The family control profile demonstrated a protective effect against executive functioning decline specifically in old age.
Conclusions:
- Meaningful patterns of combined domain-general and domain-specific control exist.
- These control patterns have significant implications for healthy cognitive aging throughout the lifespan.
- Profile differences in cognitive aging were mediated by affect and extended to broader health outcomes.
Keywords:
Cognitive agingControl belief profilesDomain-specificLatent profile analysisPerson-centered approachMore Related Videos
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