Coping and control processes: Do they contribute to individual differencesin health in older adults?

This paper reviews the literature on the relation of coping and control pro cesses to health outcomes in late adulthood and presents new data on relati ons between coping and control processes and health for 295 World War II ve terans. The results for the veterans showed that health was positively asso ciated with cognitive coping, and negatively associated with behavioural co ping and avoidance. No association was found between perceived locus of con trol and health. These findings, together with those in the literature, wer e discussed in terms of their implications for future research on the role of coping and control in health maintenance and their significance for peop le working with older persons.