Sense of Control Mediates the Relation between Discrimination and Executive Functions in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

ABSTRACT

Background

Despite previous findings of a negative association between everyday discrimination and executive functions (EF) – a set of domain-general cognitive control processes – in middle-aged and older adults, less is known about the underlying mechanism. Thus, we focused on sense on control and its two facets – perceived constraints and personal mastery – as potential psychosocial mediators of this relation.

Methods

By analyzing a nationally representative adult cohort from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) 2 study, we examined two mediational models: a single mediation model with sense of control and a parallel mediation model with perceived constraints and personal mastery as mediators.

Results

Structural equation modeling analyses showed that sense of control, as well as personal mastery and perceived constraints, mediated the relationship between discrimination and EF in middle-aged and older adults. This held true when we controlled for age, race, gender, education, and health status.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the unique and distinctive roles of sense of control and its two facets in the relation between everyday discrimination and EF in middle-aged and older adults.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

The dataset used in our study is publicly available at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NACDA/studies/4652.

Notes

1. We used age as a covariate in all structural paths of the parallel mediation model rather than a moderator in a mediation model. This was done because age has been shown to be associated with cognitive performance, whereas little evidence suggests that age moderates the relation between sense of control and EF.