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Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Change in Psychological Control: Role of Time Since Diagnosis and Functional Ability

¹ Institute of Psychology and ² Institute of Gerontology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

Address correspondence to Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD, Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychological Aging Research, University of Heidelberg, Bergheimer Str. 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. E-mail: h.w.wahl{at}psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

We apply the life-span theory of control proposed by Heckhausen and Schulz to study the change in use of control strategies related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A mixed-model approach considers nonlinear relations of rate of change in the use of control strategies with time since diagnosis and functional ability. Data stem from a sample of 90 individuals with AMD (age, M = 79.5 years at Time 1), of whom 71 were assessed two times over 1 year. Compensatory primary control strategies increased shortly after the diagnosis, whereas the increase in compensatory secondary control strategies was related to functional loss in instrumental daily activities. Findings provide support for the critical role of compensatory control strategies in the event that individuals with AMD are faced with anticipated or real functional loss.