Life Course Trajectories of Perceived Control and Their Relationship to Education

This study looks for evidence of an adulthood trajectory of perceived control over one's own life, and education's role in shaping it. Vectors from a 1995–2001 U.S. survey of adults imply a much steeper trajectory than did previous cross‐sectional studies, peaking in late middle age rather than early adulthood. They also show a trend toward larger increases in younger cohorts. Education influences the trajectory, particularly the level at which it begins. Estimates show an increase of .60 standard deviations with a four‐year increase in education. The sense of control also increases more outside of school the higher the level of education.