Expectancy of personal control and seeking social support in coping style.

Abstract

Sandler and Lakey (1982) suggested that compared to external scorers internal locus of control subjects are better able to cope with stress because they use the social support they receive more effectively. The present study examined a number of potential locus of control differences in coping styles to determine whether subjects with high expectancies of personal control report seeking significantly more social support in coping than subjects with low expectancies of personal control. Results indicate a significantly greater initiation of contact with others during periods of distress for subjects with high as opposed to low personal control.