Objectives: Given the importance of sense of mastery for physical and psychological well-being in later life, this study examined the predictors of a sense of mastery among Korean American elders.

Method: The sample included 141 community-dwelling Korean Americans aged 60 and older (M age = 68.5, SD = 6.40), who provided data in both 2003 and 2005. The model predicting sense of mastery at time 2 was estimated with sets of predictors that included (a) baseline sense of mastery, (b) other baseline characteristics (age, gender, education, length of stay in the United States, and baseline chronic conditions and functional disability), (c) non-health-related change (widowhood, decline in financial status and increased difficulty with transportation), (d) health-related change (increase in chronic conditions and increase in functional disability) and (e) an interaction term (increase in chronic conditions × increase in functional disability).

Results: After adjusting for baseline mastery, we found that baseline functional disability, decline in financial status and increased functional disability posed a significant threat to subsequent levels of mastery. Additionally, the interaction between increase in chronic conditions and increase in functional disability was significant: individuals who experienced increases in both chronic conditions and functional disability were at particular risk of a diminished sense of mastery.

Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for intervention efforts to preserve and promote a sense of mastery among older adults facing health decline.