Some correlates of health locus of control among multicultural individuals |
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Authors: | Debra J Vandervoort Pamela K Luis and Susan E Hamilton |
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Institution: | (1) University of Hawaii at Hilo, Iraq;(2) Department of Psychology, Social Sciences Division, University of Hawaii, 200 W. Kawili Street, 96720-4091 Hilo, Hawaii |
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Abstract: | The relationship of locus of control to depression, anxiety, hostility, and physical health was assessed in a sample of multicultural
college students (N = 162). Powerful Others Health Locus of Control was correlated with depression, anxiety, hostility, and
recent physical symptoms while Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLC) was correlated with all of the above as well as chronic
physical symptoms and major health problems. When controlling for a variety of health risk factors (viz., age, sex, body mass,
exercise, smoking, salt, alcohol, and caffeine), only CHLC remained significant in the physical health models. Results support
the cognitive model of mental health which emphasize the importance of adaptive beliefs. Specifically, they suggest that issues
about control are related to negative affect and indicate that the often-cited relationship of an external locus of control
to depression and anxiety also holds for hostility. The findings do not, however, support the view that anxiety and depression
are associated with different types of external locus of control but rather suggest a unified set of locus of control beliefs
underlying the three types of negative affect. In addition, evidence is provided for the external validity of the Multidimensional
Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales with respect to mental health. Further, the results indicate that belief about one’s
health may play a significant role in one’s physical health and that the health behavior model of the relationship between
locus of control and physical health is insufficient to explain the relationship. As the Chance and Powerful Others MHLC scales
were not related to health habits in this sample but were related to mental health (viz., depression, anxiety, and hostility),
locus of control beliefs may be related to physical health via their relationship with mental health. |
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