Focusing from external circumstances to internal factors, such as effort and intentions is a basic principle of the Edgar Cayce advice. This idea finds expression in today's concern about transforming "victimhood" to"empowerment," or, in the language of academic research, from "helplessness" to "self-efficacy." A recent study involving senior citizens and their sense of personal control over their lives points to the effect of this factor on longevity.
Close to 900 retired adults over 55 participated in this study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan explored the seniors' favoured roles in life, such as grandparent, spouse, friend, homemaker, provider, voluntary worker, church or club member. The participants determined which of their various roles were their favorite. They then evaluated that role for the degree of personal control they felt concerning the performance of that one.
The results of the study, reported in Psychology and Aging, showed that there was a definite relationship between the degree of personal control the participant felt in a favoured role and whether that person engaged in healthy or unhealthy behaviours and whether or not that person was alive six years later.
The participants who scored higher on role-specific personal control measures tended to adopt healthier behaviours and lived longer. On the other hand, the participants who scored lower on role-specific personal control measures were more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and suffer from obesity; all risk factors for premature deaths.
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