Intraindividual variability in perceived control in an older sample: the MacArthur successful aging studies

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Gerontology
• Personality Science

Background:

• Locus of control (LOC) and perceived competence (COM) are key personality variables in aging research.
• These constructs are typically viewed as stable traits predicting various life outcomes.
• Less is known about the within-person variability of these perceived control aspects over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the week-to-week within-person variability in self-reported LOC and COM among older adults.
• To determine if this variability is structurally consistent and meaningful over time.
• To investigate if individual differences in variability predict long-term mortality.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study tracking older participants over 7 months.
• Weekly self-report measures of locus of control and perceived competence.
• Statistical analysis of response consistency, structural stability, and variability magnitude.

Main Results:

• Participant responses demonstrated structural consistency with established concepts of perceived control.
• The underlying structure of LOC and COM remained stable throughout the study.
• Within-person variability in perceived control was coherent and not random noise.
• Individual differences in the magnitude of week-to-week variability predicted mortality status 5 years later.

Conclusions:

• Week-to-week fluctuations in perceived control (LOC and COM) are meaningful and not merely random error.
• The magnitude of this variability is a stable individual difference attribute.
• This variability serves as a significant predictor of mortality in older adults, offering new insights into aging and personality.