A meta-analytic examination of work and general locus of control.

Abstract

The current meta-analysis examined the hypothesized consequences of work and general locus of control. As expected, work locus of control generally yielded stronger relationships with work-related criteria (e.g., job satisfaction, affective commitment, and burnout) than general locus of control. We also found some evidence that general locus of control yielded relatively stronger relationships with general criteria (e.g., life satisfaction, affective commitment, and burnout). Regression analysis found several unique effects for both work and general locus of control.

Developing agency through good work: Longitudinal effects of job autonomy and skill utilization on locus of control

“…The items measure "the extent to which one regards one's life changes as being under one's own control in contrast to being fatalistically ruled" (Pearlin & Schooler, 1978, p.5), which is consistent with the definition of internal LOC (Rotter, 1966). This measure has been used to indicate general LOC in several past studies (e.g., Christie & Barling, 2009) including a meta-analytic study (Wang et al, 2010). Sample items are "I have little control over the things that happen to me" (reversed item), "What happens to me in the future mostly depends on me," and "I can do just about anything I really set my mind to do."…”

Career success of preschool teachers in Germany – the significance of the Big Five personality traits, locus of control, and occupational self-efficacy

“…By contrast, people with an external LOC (externals) do not believe they have control over their own outcomes (Ng et al, 2006). Regarding relations to career success, different explanations have been discussed (Wang et al, 2010). Internals may tend to set more ambitious career goals for themselves, and they are more likely to pursue their goals over the course of their vocational activities.…”

“…Ng et al (2006) also reported positive relations between internal LOC and various facets of job satisfaction as well as negative relations to job stress and job burnout. More recently, Wang et al (2010) reported positive relations with a number of subjective career success criteria including job satisfaction.…”

“…The most widely used criteria are job satisfaction, which refers to satisfaction with the aspects of one's current occupational activity, and career satisfaction, which draws on satisfaction with one's career path and potentially comprises several occupational positions (Heslin, 2005). In addition, variables such as perceived stress (Abele, 2011;Fuchs-Rechlin, 2007), burnout, and commitment to the organization (Wang, Bowling, & Eschleman, 2010) have been used to define subjective career success. Subjective career success has been shown to be moderately related to measures of objective career success (Judge, Thoresen, Bono, & Patton, 2001).…”

Locus of control and its relationship with some social-demographic factors

“…A number of researchers (Erez & Judge, 2001;Hollenbeck, Williams, & Klein, 1989;Yukl & Latham, 1978) pointed out that the internals were more likely than externals to set a goal, to pursue it, and to have career success. Likewise, internals have higher work satisfaction than externals and that influences the job performance and the motivational processes (Wang, Bowling, & Eschleman, 2010). Recent reviews of the locus of control literature revealed a good number of studies about the relation between the type of control and marriage (Doherty, 1981;Sheth, 2015).…”