Perceived control as a resilience factor: associations with neural, physiological and affective stress responses and mental health.

Growth mixture modeling of perceived control during an uncontrollable stress task identified two distinct classes: a high-control class and a low-control class.

• 116 male participants aged 18-30 were included in the study.
• Perceived control was measured during an uncontrollable stress task separate from the main psychosocial stress task.
• Growth mixture modeling (GMM) was used to classify participants into latent trajectory classes based on their perceived control responses.
• The two-class solution yielded a high-control class and a low-control class.

The high-control class experienced less helplessness during the uncontrollability task compared to the low-control class.

• Helplessness was assessed as an affective response during the uncontrollable stress task.
• This difference was reported as a key distinguishing feature between the two classes.
• The finding is consistent with the interpretation that perceived control buffers feelings of helplessness when facing uncontrollable stressors.

The high-control class demonstrated more flexible cortisol responses to a psychosocial stressor compared to the low-control class.

• Cortisol levels were assessed as an endocrine stress response during a psychosocial stress task (distinct from the uncontrollability task).
• The cortisol response pattern in the high-control class was characterized as 'more flexible responses to psychosocial stress.'
• Participants underwent a psychosocial stress task while cortisol was measured.

The high-control class showed greater activation of the bilateral posterior insula during psychosocial stress compared to the low-control class.

• Neural responses were assessed via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the psychosocial stress task.
• The bilateral posterior insula was specifically identified as showing differential activation between the two control classes.
• This activation pattern was interpreted as reflecting more flexible stress processing in the high-control class.

The high-control class reported fewer psychosomatic symptoms and a less external locus of control than the low-control class.

• General mental health was assessed via self-report measures.
• Psychosomatic symptoms were among the mental health outcomes showing significant differences between the two classes.
• Locus of control was also assessed and differed between classes, with the high-control class showing a less external locus of control.
• These findings link perceived control during a laboratory task to broader indices of mental health.

The study design assessed stress responses across neural, endocrine, and affective domains in response to a psychosocial stressor in a male-only sample.

• Sample consisted of 116 male participants aged 18-30.
• Stress responses were assessed via fMRI, cortisol levels, and affective state questionnaires.
• Participants completed both a psychosocial stress task and a separate uncontrollable stress task.
• The restriction to male participants limits generalizability; the authors note the need for further research.