A tight work deadline, a clogged toilet, or a disagreement with someone close can turn an ordinary day into an exhausting one. When several small hassles pile up, stress can rise quickly. New research led by scientists at Penn State suggests that a surprisingly simple factor may help: feeling more in control.
The study found that on days when people perceived greater control over a stressor, they were 62% more likely to take steps to resolve it — whether that meant calling a plumber, dealing with a billing issue, or having a difficult but necessary conversation. The link between perceived control and problem-solving also became stronger with age, pointing to a psychological resource that may grow over time and contribute to better health and well-being.
The findings were published in Communications Psychology.
Small Boosts, Meaningful Results
According to senior author David Almeida, a professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, the results show that even modest increases in perceived control can change how people respond to everyday problems. When people identify what they can influence and act on it, daily hassles are more likely to be resolved, which can reduce stress and support long-term well-being.
Earlier research has shown that stress responses shift from day to day and that small annoyances can affect health when they accumulate. Resolving stressors — such as clearing the air after conflict — is an important part of processing stress and can help emotions settle sooner.
How the Researchers Studied Control and Stress
The team wanted to understand whether feeling a sense of personal control — the belief that you can influence what happens — affects whether a stressor is actually resolved. They also examined what might shape that sense of control, including the type of stressor, how frequently stressors occur, and socioeconomic factors.
Lead author Dakota Witzel, who conducted the research while at Penn State and is now an assistant professor at South Dakota State University, said the broader question is whether perceived control can be treated as a changeable resource that improves how people cope, and in turn supports emotional health.
Eight Days of Daily Check-Ins — Repeated a Decade Later
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,700 adults in the National Study of Daily Experiences, part of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project, a long-running national study of health and well-being.
For eight consecutive days, participants reported the stressors they experienced in the previous 24 hours and whether each one was resolved by the end of the day. Common stressors included interpersonal tensions (arguments or avoided arguments), overload at home or work, and “network stress” — problems affecting friends or family that still caused distress for the participant.
Participants also rated how much control they felt over each stressor using a four-point scale: none, a little, some, or a lot. The same daily survey was administered again to the same participants 10 years later to see how the relationship between perceived control and stress resolution changed over time.
Control Isn’t Fixed — It Changes Day to Day
One key finding was that perceived control fluctuates substantially from one day to the next. In other words, feeling in control is not simply a stable personality trait; it often depends on circumstances and can shift with daily conditions.
Across all age groups, people were significantly more likely to resolve a stressor on days when they felt more control than they typically did — for example, feeling “some” control instead of “a little.” This pattern held regardless of the stressor’s type or intensity.
The Effect Strengthens With Age
The connection between control and resolution became slightly stronger over time. At the start of the study period, participants who felt more control than usual were 61% more likely to resolve their stressor that day. A decade later, that increased to 65%.
Witzel noted that the results suggest aging may be associated not only with having more control, but also with using that control more effectively to manage stress.
How to Build a Stronger Sense of Control
The researchers suggest that perceived control can be an important tool for reducing daily stress — and importantly, it can be strengthened. Strategies that may help include setting clear priorities and reframing what is realistically within reach.
Other practical approaches include breaking large problems into smaller steps, using time blocks or simple lists to track progress, and aiming for small wins that build momentum. Asking for help or delegating tasks can also increase a person’s sense of support and control. A brief end-of-day reflection may help people reset and prepare for the next day.
What the Team Plans to Study Next
The researchers plan to continue investigating how perceived control interacts with long-term or chronic stress. While this study focused on daily hassles, they want to explore whether resolving day-to-day stressors might also reduce the impact of ongoing stressors that persist over time.
The research team included co-lead author Eric Cerino of Northern Arizona University, along with collaborators from several universities and research organizations. The work was supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
