Effects of Health and Income on Control Orientation and Life Satisfaction among Aged Public Housing Residents

Abstract

Researchers have recently begun to focus to a greater degree on personality factors in old age. One such factor is locus of control. This investigation examines the relationship between life satisfaction and locus of control within the context of health and income, two variables that pervade numerous aspects of the older person's life. The data are derived from a randomly selected sample of people sixty-five years of age and older residing in high-rise public housing complexes (N = 74). The findings of the investigation are consistent with most of the previous research, which had shown internal locus of control and higher life satisfaction to be significantly associated. This association remained stable and significant when controlling on the effects of self-rated health and income, suggesting that internal control is related to life satisfaction independent of health level or monetary resources.