Residence, perceived latitude of choice and desired control among the long-livin

Pef6eived· ~ontrol, perceived choice, and residential setting are ~important factors which need to be addressed in research i n v.iJ l vi n g " the 1 on g -1 iv in g . The focus o f th i s s t u d y was t o determine the relationships among these variables. The s~~fch fo~ an inter~ction between residential setting (eft her high or low constraining) and perceived choice and {ts effect on perceived control distinguishes this study from orevious research. Twenty institutionalized and twenty noninstitutionalized women sixtv-five years of age or over were administered the Desired Control Measure as well as the Im6ortance. Locus and Range of Activities Checklist. Percei~ed choice scores obtained from the former scale, residential setting, and their interaction were used as predictor variables and scores on the latter scale the criterion, in a m'ulJiple regression analysis. Only perceived choice scores signi~icantlv predicted perceived control scores, F( l,38)=24.28, p_:.oo·o. A s ignificant i nte raction between residential setting and pcircei~ed choice was not found. The regression slopes for each : sa·mole could not be regarded as statistically different bas~~ on . Marascuilo and L~vin's (1983) test for parallelism of slopes~ F(2 ,37)=1.45. Further understanding of the importance of res i dential setting and perceived choice is necessary in order to maximize life satisfaction and wellbeing amonq the long-living.