Perceived control

4 papers7 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

4 independent labs in 1 country

Humans4

Outcomes

Episodic memory variability

no changein humans1

1 study

Perceived control has no effect on episodic memory variability in humans (α = -0.06, p = .32).
“but not episodic memory (α = -0.06, p = .32).”
Humansn = 217
Perceived Control Buffers Against Variability in Day-to-Day Cognition in Midlife and Older Age
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Processing speed variability

downin humans1

1 study

Perceived control decreases processing speed variability in humans (α = -0.25, p < .001).
“greater perceived control predicted less day-to-day variability (the Level-1 residual variances) in executive functioning (α = -0.23, p < .001) and processing speed (α = -0.25, p < .001)”
Humansn = 217
Perceived Control Buffers Against Variability in Day-to-Day Cognition in Midlife and Older Age
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Executive functioning variability

downin humans1

1 study

Perceived control decreases executive functioning variability in humans (α = -0.23, p < .001).
“greater perceived control predicted less day-to-day variability (the Level-1 residual variances) in executive functioning (α = -0.23, p < .001)”
Humansn = 217
Perceived Control Buffers Against Variability in Day-to-Day Cognition in Midlife and Older Age
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Irritation ratings from retrospective memory lapses

downin humans1

1 study

Perceived control decreases irritation ratings from retrospective memory lapses in humans (Est.=-0.47, SE = 0.15, p<.01).
“On average, people with higher stressor control reported significantly lower irritation ratings from retrospective memory lapses (Est.=-0.47, SE = 0.15, p<.01).”
Humans57.38% Femalesn = 1,236
Associations Between Daily Interpersonal Stressor Control and Memory Lapses in Daily Life
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Episodic memory

no changein humans1

1 study

Perceived control has no effect on episodic memory in humans.
“Perceived control did not moderate effects of childhood PTE on EM outcomes.”
Humansmoderation by perceived control
The Moderating Effects of Perceived Control on the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Cognitive Health
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Cognitive decline

downin humans1

1 study

Perceived control protects against cognitive decline in humans.
“perceived control buffered the detrimental impacts of childhood PTE on cognitive health, but the buffering effect was specific to level and change in EF.”
Humansin individuals with childhood trauma exposure
The Moderating Effects of Perceived Control on the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Cognitive Health
GSA 2025 abstract31 Dec 2025

Associations

Subjective accelerated aging

downin humans1

1 study

Perceived control predicts subjective accelerated aging in humans.
“daily control beliefs were negatively associated with daily accelerated aging”
Humans14-dayn = 440
DAILY STRESSORS AND DAILY CONTROL BELIEFS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DAILY ACCELERATED AGING
GSA 2024 abstract31 Dec 2024