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Cited by 522Aging and Gerontology ResearchAging, Health, and DisabilityGeriatric Care and Nursing Homes

Effects of control and predictability on the physical and psychological well-being of the institutionalized aged.

Schulz, Richard·1976·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.33.5.563
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Abstract

It was hypothesized that some of the characteristics frequently observed among the aged--such as feelings of depression and helphlessness, as well as accelerated physical decline--are at least in part attributable to loss of control. A field experiment in which institutionalized aged were randomly assigned to one of four conditions was carried out to assess the effects of increased control and predictability upon the physical and psychological well-being of the aged. Individuals in three of the four conditions were visited by college undergraduates under varying contingencies, while persons in the fourth condition were not visited and served as a baseline comparison group. Subjects in the control condition could determine both the frequency and duration of visits they recieved. A second group of subjects (predict) was informed when they would be visited and how long the visitor would stay, but had no control over these details. A third group (random) was visited on a random schedule. It was found that predictable and controllable positive events have a powerful positive impact upon the well-being of the institutionalized aged.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.33.5.563

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  • Thirteen out of 15 (87%) interventions categorised as having a theoretical basis reported beneficial effects on at least one outcome domain compared with 10 out of 17 (59%) studies categorised as having no theoretical basis.

    “Thirteen out of 15 (87%) interventions categorised as having a theoretical basis reported beneficial effects on at least one outcome domain [13,53-55,59,65,67-69,73-75,81] compared with 10/17 (59%) studies categorised as having no theoretical basis [52,56,60,63,66,70,71,76,78,79].”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [59]

  • Five out of 11 (45%) one-to-one interventions had a positive effect on at least one of the four social health sub-domains.

    “This compares with five out of 11 (45%) one-to-one interventions [59,71,78,79,81].”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [59]

  • In the same home visiting intervention, no significant differences were observed between the two intervention groups, or between the two control groups.

    “No significant differences were observed between the two intervention groups, or between the two control groups.”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [59]

  • In the same home visiting intervention, intervention groups reported improved hope and happiness, and a smaller increase in the quantity of medication taken per day compared with control participants.

    “The intervention groups also reported improved hope and happiness, and reported a smaller increase in the quantity of medication taken per day in comparison with control participants.”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [59]

  • Two of the three home visiting studies at high risk of bias reported significant improvements in the extracted outcomes.

    “Two of the three studies at high risk of bias [59,78,80] reported significant improvements in the extracted outcomes.”

    From Interventions targeting social isolation in older people: a systematic review (2011) · cites this paper as [59]

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Authors
Schulz, R.
Affiliations
Carnegie Mellon University (US)
Corresponding author
Schulz, Richard
ORCID
Schulz, Richard
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1976
Volume
33
Issue
5
Pages
563-573
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.33.5.563
OpenAlex
W2083832951
Cited by
522
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 12
FWCI
21.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
Keywords
older adults, loss of control, predictability, well-being, depression, helplessness, physical decline, psychological well-being, physical well-being
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Female, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Residential Facilities, Retirement, Self Concept, Social Adjustment, Social Behavior

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