Personal Possessions and Environmental Control:

Abstract

Possessions allow individuals to experience control over their environment and may therefore act as a buffer for people when they are experiencing loss of control in other areas of their lives, for example, as a result of institutionalization. The present study explored the relationship between possessions and perceived control for elderly women in (a) their own home, (b) a residential unit, and (c) a rest home. Ten women in each residential setting were interviewed about the meaning and value of their possessions. Qualitative analysis revealed six themes relating to control over the environment (control over use by self, control over use by others, control over active acquisition of possessions, control over passive acquisition of possessions, control over surroundings, control over distribution of possessions). The responses of the three groups of women for each of these themes are compared and discussed.