Distinguishing between self-control and perceived control over the environment to understand disadvantaged neighbourhood health and lifestyle outcomes

• Published in: Psychology & health Vol. 34; no. 11; pp. 1282 - 1293
• Main Authors: Gillebaart, Marleen, De Ridder, Denise T. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 02.11.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; health; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Internal-External Control; Life Style; Lifestyles; Male; Middle Aged; neighbourhood; Netherlands; perceived control; Poverty Areas; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Self control; Self-Control - psychology; sense of mastery; Surveys and Questionnaires; wellbeing; Young Adult; Netherlands; health; perceived control; Self-control; neighbourhood; sense of mastery; wellbeing
• ISSN: 0887-0446; 1476-8321
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1591409

Objective: The current study aimed to test whether and how self-control and perceived control play a role in health outcomes and lifestyle differences between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Design: Cross-sectional survey data including demographics was collected from 3758 participants. Main outcome measures: With the survey, self-control, perceived control, health status and lifestyle variables were assessed. Results: Participants in disadvantaged neighbourhoods reported poorer general health, as well as unhealthier lifestyles compared to participants in non-disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Self-control was likewise positively associated with health and lifestyle variables. However, self-control did not differ between participants from different neighbourhoods. Perceived control over the environment mediated between type of neighbourhood and health, with participants from a disadvantaged neighbourhood reporting a lower sense of perceived control, which in turn was associated with poorer self-reported general health and less healthy lifestyle choices. Conclusion: This reveals that perceived control over one's life and the environment is more important than self-control when explaining health differences between neighbourhoods.