Primary and Secondary Control-Enhancing Strategies

Abstract

Objectives:The major goal of this article was to assess the link between controlenhancing strategies and health in an older population. In particular, the use of primarycontrol strategies, which involve modifying the environment (e.g., actively persisting) and compensatory secondary-control strategies, which involve modifying the self (e.g., expecting less of oneself) was studied. Methods:Participants ( n= 241) in a large-scale longitudinal study were interviewed to assess their use of strategies and their health. Results:Health (physical and perceived) was found to vary for those using primary and compensatory secondary-control strategies; however, the nature of this variation depended on age. Discussion:The findings may indicate that primary-control strategies have positive health implications for the young-old but that these same strategies become detrimental to health in late life. The findings could further suggest that compensatory secondary-control strategies become increasingly more adaptive in late life.