Abstract
Perceived control is an important psychosocial resource for healthy aging. Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=2,021, M=55.82 years, SD=10.35, 57.27% Female), we examined aging-related changes in stressor control across 10 years and compared these trajectories with measures of general control (mastery, constraints). Over 8 consecutive days in waves conducted in ~2008 and ~2017, people reported their perceived control over four types of stressors (arguments, avoided arguments, work, home). Longitudinal analyses revealed declines in stressor control across 10 years (p<.001), driven by declines in home stressors specifically. The rate of decline did not depend on baseline age. General control trajectories showed unique patterns of age differences in aging-related change such that declines (less mastery, more constraints) were steeper among older adults (p<.001). Results suggest that stressor control is a distinct domain of control beliefs with aging-related declines that differ based on type of stress experienced.