Abstract

SANTOS, Andréa Temponi dos. Perceived control: a comparative study with adult males and females. Rev. bras.ter. cogn. [online]. 2005, vol.1, n.1, pp. 91-100. ISSN 1808-5687.

Perceived control is assumed as self-regulatory mechanisms and as moderator variables to psychosocial adaptation along the life-span. This study was aimed at investigating similarities and differences concerning these processes and their interactions with the subjective well-being of young, middle-aged and adult subjects from both genders. Subjects were 300 individuals aged 20-29, 40-49 and 60-69; half of them were male. Instruments included a questionnaire on socio-demographic data; a multidimensional scale of perceived control. Data analysis indicated that all the sample held strong beliefs on its own ability to control health and social relationships. Lowest scores occurred among adults in the social relationships, family relations, finances and productivity domains. Those that held low beliefs on effort showed the strongest beliefs on chance and on powerful others as sources of control. Factorial analysis applied to the control scale showed a neat split between items related to beliefs on chance and powerful others, and to effort and ability.

Keywords : Perceived control; Adult; Sense of control.