Shifting Sense of Control: State, Trait, and Scar Effects of Late-life Depression in Trajectories of Mastery

The authors aimed to investigate how late-life depression affects individuals' sense of control, or mastery, over time, specifically examining the trajectories of mastery before, during, and after a major depressive episode (MDE). They identified four distinct mastery trajectories, including stable high and low mastery, a lasting decline post-MDE, and a temporary decline with recovery, highlighting the heterogeneity in responses to depression. These findings suggest that understanding individual mastery trajectories can help clinicians tailor care to better support recovery in older adults experiencing depression.