Housing-related control beliefs and independence in activities of daily living in very old age

Control beliefs, i.e. a person's perceived control over his or her own behaviour, are important predictors of psychological functioning in old age. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating effect of housing-related control beliefs on the relationship between housing accessibility and independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Moreover, cross-national differences in five European countries were analysed, based on data from the ENABLE-AGE Project. Data were collected at home visits with 1 918 very old people aged 75-89 years, living alone at home in Swedish, German, British, Hungarian, and Latvian urban areas. Assessments were based on standardized instruments with good psychometric properties. Correlations showed small to medium relationships between accessibility, housing-related control beliefs, and ADL independence. Further, multi-group structural equation modelling revealed that not only housing accessibility but housing-related control beliefs explain unique portions of variation in the independent performance of daily activities. In particular, participants with lower external control beliefs performed more independently in ADL. Though some differences among countries were observed, cross-national similarity in correlative patterns existed regarding control beliefs and independence in ADL. Introducing the concept of housing-related control beliefs into occupational therapy, comprehensively and cross-nationally, has the potential to increase our professional understanding of older people's housing situation.