![Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110801/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Behavioral-Sciences.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Longitudinal associations between generalized control beliefs (one's perceived capacity to influence events) and cognitive test performance were examined in a population-based sample of young, midlife and older adults. Participants provided measures of perceived control, self-assessed health, education and depression and anxiety symptoms, and completed cognitive tests at two assessments, 4 years apart. For each age group, baseline (between-person) control was positively related to performance on tests of memory (immediate recall and digits backwards), speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test and choice reaction time) and verbal intelligence (Spot-the-Word). Interaction effects indicated stronger associations of between-person control beliefs with indices of speed for the older age group relative to the younger groups. Within-person changes in control were not significantly associated with changes in cognitive test performance over the study interval. Implications of the findings for self-efficacy based interventions designed to promote cognitive functioning are discussed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Funding for data collection was provided by Unit Grant No. 973302 and Program Grant No. 179805 from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and a grant from the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. Tim Windsor is supported by NHMRC Capacity Building Grant in Population Health Research No. 418020. Kaarin Anstey is supported by NHMRC Research Fellowship No. 366756. We wish to thank Helen Christensen, Anthony Jorm, Bryan Rodgers, Trish Jacomb, Karen Maxwell and the team of PATH interviewers for their contribution to the research.