AGING AND SENSE OF CONTROL

Three groups representing different phases of the developmental lifecy cle-12 senior citizens, 67 young adults, and 14 healthy middle-aged no rmal adults-were assessed using a multidimensional control inventory. Senior citizens had a healthy over-all sense of control comparable to those of the other two groups and a significantly lower (healthier) ne gative sense of control. They also mere significantly more likely to e ndorse acceptance as a way of addressing areas of concern and to compl ement self as a source of control with a sense of control coming from others (including God, belief in a higher power).