Daily association between perceived control and resolution of daily stressors strengthens across a decade of adulthood

Abstract

Greater perceived control is often associated with better responses to life’s stressors. One reason for this link may be that greater perceived control is related to the ability to resolve these stressful experiences. Using longitudinal data from the National Study of Daily Experiences ( N = 1766, Mage = 56.25, SD = 12.20, 57% women, 43% men), we examined associations between perceived control over daily stressors and the likelihood of stressor resolution, and how associations varied over a decade. In two waves conducted in ~2005 and ~2015, participants reported perceived control and resolution of their daily stressors across eight consecutive days. Generalized multilevel models adjusted for trends across days and waves, as well as number of stressors, gender, education, and race. People experiencing greater stressor control across the study days were more likely to report stressor resolution (OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.74–2.13, p < 0.001). Further, individuals were more likely to report stressor resolution on days when they reported greater control over their stressors than usual (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.57–1.77, p < 0.001). This within-person association increased in magnitude across waves (OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.06–1.39, p < 0.01), resulting in a stronger association between stressor control and resolution when individuals were 10 years older (OR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.69–2.12, p < 0.001). Results indicate perceived control is a psychosocial correlate of stressor resolution and an important appraisal resource for daily stress processes across the adult lifespan.