Exploring the interplay between control beliefs, cortisol levels and depression in old age: Is feeling in control always beneficial?

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between levels of mastery/conscientiousness and cortisol response in older adults, considering depression status. Based on former research we hypothesized that high and low and not intermediate levels of mastery/conscientiousness would correlate with high cortisol response, particularly in depressed individuals. Methods: Data from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO) were analyzed. Respondents were categorized into low, intermediate, and high mastery/conscientiousness groups. Regression analyses examined associations between mastery/conscientiousness and evening cortisol (N=412) and cortisol awakening response (N=370), stratified by depression status. Histograms were created to visualize the results. Results: No significant associations were found between mastery/conscientiousness and cortisol response, irrespective of depression status. Conclusions: Our findings do not suggest that low or high levels of mastery/conscientiousness increase stress in depressed older adults compared to those with intermediate levels, nor do they differ from non-depressed individuals.