Maintaining Perceptions of Control: Finding Perceived Control in Low-Control Circumstances

Three questions about the role of perceived control in coping with a major life stressor were addressed in a sample of 71 cancer patients. As expected, those with greater perceptions of control were less depressed, even when physical functioning, marital satisfaction, and negative affectivity were c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 1993-02, Vol.64 (2), p.293-304
Main Authors: Thompson, Suzanne C, Sobolew-Shubin, Alexandria, Galbraith, Michael E, Schwankovsky, Lenore, Cruzen, Dana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Caregivers - psychology
Coping Behavior
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Internal External Locus of Control
Internal-External Control
Life Change Events
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms
Neoplasms - psychology
Patients
Perceived Control
Perception
Perceptions
Personality
Personality. Affectivity
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Sick Role
Social research
Stress
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Summary:Three questions about the role of perceived control in coping with a major life stressor were addressed in a sample of 71 cancer patients. As expected, those with greater perceptions of control were less depressed, even when physical functioning, marital satisfaction, and negative affectivity were controlled for. Consistent with a compensatory model of control, it was more important for patients to believe that they could control daily emotional reactions and physical symptoms than the course of the disease. Patients who endorsed irrational beliefs had lower overall perceptions of control. The results indicated that even patients who were physically or psychosocially worse off were better adjusted if they had higher perceptions of control.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.64.2.293