The Multidimensional: Health Locus of Control: Applied to Four Classifications of Working Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to apply the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale to the Perceived Control portion of Pender's Health Belief Model. The sample respondents consisted of healthy adults employed by a major corporation in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. The first aim of this study was to determine how a sample of adult office workers perceived control of their own health status. The second aim was to explore whether perception of control of health status differed according to occupational class among a sample of clerical, technical, professional, and managerial workers. The literature was reviewed in the following areas: locus of control, health locus of control, and the relationship between the two as they relate to the health belief model. Rationale for studying health locus of control is supported in the literature. Using a descriptive survey approach with questionnaire instrumentation, data were collected from 226 employees employed by a Fortune 500 Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Descriptive statistics were utilized in the data analysis. The results of the study indicated that this particular sample of adult employees generally perceive themselves to have a high degree of internal control over their health status. Further, there was little difference among the mean scores of perception of control among clerical, technical, professional, and managerial workers. Recommendations were made that the study be repeated using a blue-collar population. In addition, hypotheses were generated about the relationship of age, sex, education, and occupational class to determine the degree of their impact on health locus of control. The implications for nursing practice and recommendations for health promotion activities are presented.