Health locus of control and health related risk behavior--an analysis of locus of control patterns
Barth, J.; Härter, M.
Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie 46(7): 247-253
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0937-2032 PMID: 8765896 Document Number: 459841
In this study we related health locus of control beliefs to risk-behavior (little physical exercise, overweight and smoking) in a sample of n = 956 persons, First, we used a correlative method and later we analysed health locus of control patterns. The sample is divided in eight different health locus of control beliefs patterns by the three dimensions (internal, social external and fatalistic external). The hypothesis that some subgroups have a different risk-behavior can't supported. Only the subgroup with high internal and high social external health locus of control showed in tendency lower risk-behavior. Finally we discuss different possibilities for the interpretation of the results.