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Self-percepts of control in middle and later adulthood: Buffering losses by rescaling goals.
Abstract
The authors propose a model of how a sense of control is maintained in later adulthood through shifts in the subjective importance of developmental goals. Developmental goals and control beliefs were repeatedly assessed over an 8-year interval on a core sample of 735 participants (initial age range: 30-59 years). The findings reveal a high degree of stability in generalized perceptions of control even in the transition to later adulthood. In line with predictions, moderated multiple regressions indicated(a) that the degree to which self-percepts of control within a particular goal domain affect an individual's general sense of control depends on the personal importance of that domain, and (b) that losses of control within a goal domain affect general perceptions of control to a lesser degree if the importance of the respective domain is downscaled within the same longitudinal interval. Implications for theories of depression as well as for successful aging are discussed.
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“The concept of a ‘preferred future’ when living with pain has also more recently been given focus by pain researchers,18–20 as have techniques such as focusing on successes during pain consultations.21”
From New approaches towards chronic pain: Patient experiences of a solution-focused pain management programme (2014) · cites this paper as [19]
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“When a young self-concept is threatened in such important and self-relevant domains, individuals can respond in either assimilative or accommodative ways (Brandtstädter and Rothermund 1994, 2002).”
Self-citationThe “Fit” Model of Personal Control and Well-Being in Younger and Older Adults
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“Conversely, those low in persistence may exhibit low motivation to pursue a new goal because of the demoral-izing effect of lowering one’s aspirations (Brandtstädter & Rothermund, 1994; Ryff, 2019; Wrosch et al., 2000).”
GAM: a comprehensive successful ageing model
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“In addition, Brandtstadter and Greve ( 1994 ), Brandtstadter and Rothermund ( 1994 ) and Brandtstadter and Rothermund ( 2002 ) proposed their model in terms of assimilative and accommodative processes.”
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Goals or semantic constructs? Different choice setting and choice goal activation
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“One possible explanation is provided by compensation theories (Brandtstadter & Renner, 1990; Brandtstadter & Rothermund, 1994), with age people rescale their goals, among them social needs, and that way are quite satisfied in their close social circles (Lastford at. al., 1998).”
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Takemura, A., & Naka, M. (2012) · The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.5926/jjep.60.211 · Cited by 1
“…る。Rothbaum et al.（1982）に従うなら，このような SCは，PCと同様，個人の適応に肯定的に働くと予想 される。それだけでなく，統制することが困難な状況 （例えば,加齢による心身機能の低下や不治の病に直面する状 況）では，PC（例,老いに抗う行為）にこだわり続けるこ とは無力感（helplessness）をもたらす可能性もあり，SC （例,老いを受容する行為）の方がPCより適応的であるこ とが示唆される。さらに彼らは，一連の統制理論が注 目してきたのはPC過程のみであり，統制理論の限界 を修正するためには，SC過程について，検討を重ねる…”
Dikken, J. (2016) · Bohn Stafleu van Loghum eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-90-368-1487-4_6
Hennecke, M. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_99
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Hennecke, M. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_99-1
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Rauvola, R. S., & Rudolph, C. W. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/durvz
Sintomas depressivos na velhice
Batistoni, S. S. T. (2007) · doi:10.47749/t/unicamp.2007.407610 · Cited by 1
The Sea Change in Locus of Control for Mid-Career Faculty: From External to Internal
DeFelippo, A. M. (2019) · American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (AERA) · doi:10.3102/1430300
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Do Early Midlife Work Characteristics Predict 20-Year Change in Control Beliefs?Preprint
Hartung, J., Stahlhofen, L., Schilling, O. K., et al. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/q3kh5
Eiadat, Y. H. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4823148
Awareness of Age-Related Change is Associated With Attitudes Toward Death and Dying in Older Adults
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Selovin, F., Couto, M. C. D. P., Scholz, M., Baber, R., Riedel-Heller, S. G., Wirkner, K., Zeynalova, S., & Rothermund, K. (2026) · European Journal of Ageing · doi:10.1007/s10433-026-00920-1
“Specifically, it has been found that personal health is more difficult to downgrade in importance (Brandtstädter and Rothermund 1994) due to health being a prerequisite for most other goals (Hobfoll 1989).”
Self-citationPokyčių kartos Lietuvoje: vertybių kaitos perspektyva
Savicka, A., & Žiliukaitė, R. (2026) · Lietuvos kultūros tyrimų institutas eBooks · doi:10.53630/savicka_ziliukaite2026
Metadata
- Authors
- Brandtstädter, J., & Rothermund, K.
- Affiliations
- Universität Trier (DE)
- ORCID
- Rothermund, Klaus
- Venue
- Psychology and Aging
- Published
- 1994
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 265-273
- ISSN
- 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1498
- OpenAlex
- W2014209192
- Cited by
- 173
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 6.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Keywords
- perceived control, midlife, later adulthood, developmental goals, loss of control, successful aging, depression
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Age Factors, Aging, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Freedom, Goals, Humans, Internal-External Control, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Regression Analysis, Self Concept, Social Adjustment
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