Abstract
“Locus of control” is a key concept in the learning theory of personality, developed by Rotter in the 1950s and 1960s. The concept has been applied to various areas of psychological research, including health psychology. People with internal locus of control (internals) tend to regard outcomes as the result of their own decisions and actions. In contrast, people with external locus of control (externals) regard outcomes as attributable to circumstances outside their own control such as fate, luck, and influential others (e.g., medical doctors). The health locus of control (HLC) concept was developed by Wallston in the 1970s. HLC is associated with various aspects of health including health‐related behaviors and involvement in the decision‐making process regarding treatment and steps in the healthcare system. Internals have a higher propensity to change health‐related behaviors in a healthy direction than externals. The multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC) scale and the health locus of control scale are the main instruments to assess HLC. The MHLC includes four independent scales with answers on a Likert‐type scale with six alternatives ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” Future study designs might include the assessment of HLC in a life‐course perspective.
Published Version
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