Health Locus of Control: A Potential Moderator Variable for the Relationship between Life Stress and Psychopathology

Abstract

Although research indicates that stressful life events commonly precede the onset of a variety of psychological disorders, reported correlations have consistently been only moderately strong. The present study examined the possibility that the health locus of control (HLC) mediates the relationship between life event stress and psychopathology. Subjects were 81 male volunteers between the ages of 21 and 62. The SCL-90-R was utilized to measure psychological symptom status. Subjects’ perceptions regarding the desirability and controllability of experienced events were examined. Life events which were perceived to be both undesirable and uncontrollable were significantly correlated with the indices of psychopathology only for subjects who were external in HLC. Externals also showed significant correlations between events which were perceived as being undesirable but under personal control and psychological symptoms. The results suggest that externals are more vulnerable to life event stress than internals. Practical implications for health psychologists are discussed.

Sleep Locus of Control: Report on a New Scale

“…It is possible that the internal consistency of the measure might be quite different with alternative samples. In adult alumnae, and consistent with other investigations (Benassi et al, 1988;Hewitt & Flett, 1991;Hutner & Locke, 1984;Katerndahl, 1991;Scott & Severance, 1975), depression, anxiety, and socially prescribed perfectionism were associated with a more chance locus of control orientation. Similar to other studies, self-oriented perfectionism was not associated with depression and anxiety (Hill, Zrull, & Turlington, 1997).…”

“…For example, several studies have found that those with an external locus of control, more than those with an internal locus of control, report problems with depression, anxiety, hypochondriasis, phobic avoidance, and socially prescribed perfectionism (Benassi, Sweeney, & Dufour, 1988;Hewitt & Flett, 1991;Hutner & Locke, 1984;Katerndahl, 1991;Scott & Severance, 1975). Studies have also shown that those with an internal, more than an external, health locus of control seek health care knowledge, use specific information about their disease and treatment, engage in more preventive health behaviors, and feel less vulnerable to health problems (Bundek, Marks, & Richardson, 1993;Jex, 1991;Kirscht, 1972;Slenker, Price, & O'Connell, 1985).…”

The Relationship of Hardiness, Gender, and Stress to Health Outcomes in Adolescents

“…By contrast, control significantly predicted the experience of dysfunctional symptoms among high-but not low-stress males. For high-stress males, greater control was associated with fewer psychotic, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms, whereas less control was associated with more of these symptoms, a finding that is consistent with previous research (Hunter & Locke, 1984). ' Commitment also interacted with gender and stress in predicting psychotic symptoms.…”

External health locus of control and general self-efficacy: Moderators of emotional distress among university students

“…Classic studies support the moderating effect of EHLC (Johnson & Sarason, 1978) or SE (Maciejewski, Prigerson, & Mazure, 2000) in the relationship between stressful life events and overall mood disturbance. This hypothesis is based on findings from several studies that suggest that for high EHLC, illness severity is related to depressive symptoms (Helgeson, 1992;Hutner & Locke, 1984;Johnson & Sarason, 1978;Marks et al, 1986). Collectively, this research suggests a negative influence of EHLC and a positive influence of SE on psychological wellbeing in relation to a stressful experience.…”