General Control Beliefs Research Articles

Fear of COVID-19 disease and vaccination as predictors of vaccination status

Vaccination rates are still insufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so immunity must be increased among the population in order to reduce the virus’ spread and the associated medical and psychosocial effects. Although previous work has identified various factors associated with a low willingness to get vaccinated, the role of emotions such as fear of vaccination (FVAC) or fear of COVID-19 (FCOV), vaccination as a subjective norm (SN), psychological factors like general control beliefs (CB) or psychological resilience, and their interaction have been investigated less intensively. We used data from three cross-sectional waves of the German Panel COSMO (November 2021, N = 1010; February 2022, N = 1026; March 2022, N = 1031) and multiple logistic regression analyses to test whether vaccination rates are moderated by those factors. After controlling for covariates (age, sex, confidence in own intuition, optimism, well-being), we found that CB was no significant predictor of vaccination status. Higher FCOV and higher ratings in SN, however, were associated with an increased likelihood of being vaccinated. In contrast, higher FVAC was associated with a decreased likelihood of being vaccinated. Psychological resilience did not consistently moderate the associations between fear and vaccination status.

Çok Boyutlu Mevcut Kontrol Ölçeği geliştirme ve geçerlilik çalışması

The most commonly used perceived control scales focus on persistent general control beliefs or the control over personal reactions. These scales are not applicable to various adult groups and fail to represent main life domains. In addition, previous research shows that current control feelings explain health outcomes better than general control beliefs. This study aimed to develop a general current control scale based on the degree of perceived control at five main life domains, targeting various adult groups. Five main life domains (i.e., health, interpersonal relations, personal growth, economy, and societal issues) and their subsections were determined based on the perceived control literature. Five academics assessed the scale’s content validity, and its feasibility was tested via a pilot study. 376 participants (281 females, mean age 30.5) completed Demographic Information Form, the Multidimensional Current Control Scale (MCCS), the Domain General Perceived Control Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale online. Results show that the scale has a good degree of factor, convergent, and criterion validity. In addition, the scale has high internal reliability (a = .89) and test-retest reliability scores (r = .69) with a two-week interval. These findings helped us develop a multidimensional current control scale targeting various adult groups with good psychometric characteristics.

Drivers of young adults’ voluntary compliance with COVID-19 protective measures: results from a multi-method study

BackgroundWith the easing of governmental COVID-19 restrictions, promoting voluntary public compliance with protective measures becomes essential for the pandemic evolution. A highly relevant target group for such health promotion are adolescents and young adults since they showed a strong decline in compliance throughout the pandemic. Building on an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior, this article investigates drivers of young people’s intentions to engage in voluntary COVID-19 measures in phases of re-opening.MethodsWe conducted a sequential multi-method study among 14- to 29-year-olds in Germany: (1) a semi-standardized online survey (N = 88) to examine underlying beliefs and (2) a standardized online survey (N = 979) to identify influencing factors of compliance. The pre-study addressed the respondents’ perceptions about wearing a mask, social distancing, and avoiding crowded locations (open-ended questions). Responses for all protective measures were aggregated to identify general behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about COVID-19 protective measures. In order to gain generalizable insights into the factors determining voluntary compliance intentions in younger adults, we conceptualized the model constructs in the subsequent standardized online survey as formative measures based on their underlying beliefs. PLS-SEM was used to examine the effects of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, risk perceptions, and knowledge on young people’s intentions to comply (main study). Furthermore, a multi-group analysis was conducted to investigate differences between compliers and non-compliers.ResultsThe pre-study revealed that young people’s instrumental attitudes not only cover reasons of protection but also aspects of self-presentation (e.g., being a role model). The main study showed that besides knowledge and perceived severity of illness, instrumental attitude is the strongest predictor of intention to comply. The influence is even stronger in the group of non-compliers.ConclusionThis article highlights the importance of theory-based campaign planning and provides practical guidance to health communicators on how to increase voluntary compliance with COVID-19 protective measures in adolescents and young adults. The findings demonstrate the great potential of combining the Theory of Planned Behavior with risk perception and knowledge to gain deeper insights into the feelings and thoughts of younger target groups during a health crisis.

Perceiving More Age-Related Losses? The Role of General Control Beliefs and Daily Disturbance to Plans

We examined daily fluctuations in future time perspective within the daily stress and awareness of aging processes. Awareness of age-related change (AARC) focuses on everyday experiences that highlight changes in behavior and functioning as a result of growing older. We integrated individual differences in control beliefs because those with higher control tend to be more resilient to stressors. We conducted a daily diary study of 112 older adults (aged 60-90) who completed measures of control beliefs at baseline and then daily measures of stressor exposure, appraisal (e.g., threats to future plans), and AARC for eight consecutive days. Increases in threats to future plans were associated with increases in AARC losses, and those with low control were especially vulnerable to increases in threats to future plans. With a constricted future time perspective, any threats to future plans may be especially harmful for older adults who are low in control beliefs.

Prosocial Behavior and Contributors to Older Adults’ Well-Being in Daily Life

This symposium reports findings from a national experience-sampling study of 165 older adults (mean age=71, range=60-88 years) who are heavily involved in prosocial activity, contributing to their communities as leaders or high-commitment volunteers in social-purpose organizations. Gerontological research has linked prosocial activity to a set of positive outcomes for the older adults who engage in it (e.g., better health and reduced mortality), including global measures of well-being such as life satisfaction. However, little is known about the contributors to these individuals’ momentary well-being. Four presentations address this gap in knowledge. In the first presentation, Dwight Tse revisits the concept of successful aging as a within-person variable with day-to-day variations. Experience sampling data revealed great variations in successful aging indicators, and successful aging was associated with better well-being as hypothesized. In the second presentation, Ajit Mann extends beyond general control beliefs and explores the diversity in distribution of control beliefs across various daily activities (e.g., active leisure, prosocial activity, socializing, etc.), in addition to investigating the relationship between later life control diversity and subjective well-being. In the third presentation, Kelsey Finley explores Aristotle’s concept of the golden mean (an ideal state between deficiency and excess) for the number of hours spent in prosocial work on momentary well-being outcomes. In the fourth presentation, Jeanne Nakamura examines the relationship between global meaning in life and meaningful engagement in the moment, illuminating variation in this relationship through a comparison of the prosocial leaders and high-commitment volunteers.

Mental Health Challenges of United States Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19.

As COVID-19 continues to impact global society, healthcare professionals (HCPs) are at risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes due to their role as care providers. The objective of this study was to better understand the current psychological impact of COVID-19 on HCPs in the United States This study used an online survey tool to collect demographic data and measures of well-being of adults age 18 and older living in the United States between March 20, 2020 and May 14, 2020. Measures included anxiety and stress related to COVID-19, depressive symptoms, current general anxiety, health questions, tiredness, control beliefs, proactive coping, and past and future appraisals of COVID-related stress. The sample included 90 HCPs and 90 age-matched controls (Mage = 34.72 years, SD = 9.84, range = 23 – 67) from 35 states of the United States. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed, using education as a covariate, to identify group differences in the mental and physical health measures. HCPs reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, past and future appraisal of COVID-related stress, concern about their health, tiredness, current general anxiety, and constraint, in addition to lower levels of proactive coping compared to those who were not HCPs (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.28). Within the context of this pandemic, HCPs were at increased risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes. Potential targets, such as adaptive coping training, for intervention are discussed.

Perceived control and voice handicap in patients with voice disorders.

The purpose of the study was to replicate and extend previous research on the relation between perceived present control and voice handicap and to further examine the psychometric properties of a present control scale adapted for patients with voice disorders (Misono, Meredith, Peterson, & Frazier, 2016). Sample 1 consisted of 1,129 patients recruited from a voice disorder clinic who completed measures of perceived present control, distress, and voice handicap in the clinic. Sample 2 consisted of 62 patients from the same clinic who completed measures of present control, distress, voice handicap, and general control beliefs online at baseline and measures of present control and voice handicap again 3 weeks later (n = 59). With regard to the psychometric properties of the voice-adapted present control scale, alpha coefficients were above .80 and the 3-week test-reliability coefficient was .69. There was mixed support for the hypothesized 1-factor structure of the scale. In Sample 1, present control was more strongly associated with lower voice handicap than was distress and accounted for significant variance in voice handicap controlling for distress. In Sample 2, present control at baseline predicted later voice handicap, controlling for general control beliefs and distress. Present control appears to be a promising target for adjunctive interventions for patients with voice disorders. An evidence-based online present control intervention (Hintz, Frazier, & Meredith, 2015) is being adapted for this patient population. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Role of General and Daily Control Beliefs for Affective Stressor-Reactivity Across Adulthood and Old Age

General and situational control beliefs have been examined separately as buffers of the effects of daily stressors on affective well-being. However, general (trait) control beliefs reflect perceived ability to adapt, change, and influence overall life circumstances, whereas situational (daily) control beliefs reflect perceived ability to manage current circumstances and achieve desired outcomes. Using 9 weeks of daily reports from 150 adults aged 18-89 years, we examined the extent that general and daily control beliefs buffer the between- and within-person associations involving stressors and negative and positive affect (i.e., daily stress processes) and whether/how the extent of buffering differs with age. Aligning with prior findings, both greater average stressor exposure and experiencing a daily stressor compromised daily affective well-being and both higher general and daily control beliefs facilitated daily affective well-being. Specific to the motivating hypotheses, both general and daily control beliefs buffered daily stressor-reactivity. Age was associated with individuals' daily stressor-buffering, such that stressor-reactivity was more effectively damped at older ages. Associations between general control beliefs and daily stress processes were age invariant. Mixed evidence of age differences across general and daily control beliefs highlights how within-person processes may differentially contribute to well-being as individuals accommodate age-related strengths and vulnerabilities.

A quantitative analysis of attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable parasite control practices from Scottish sheep farmers

Nematode control in sheep, by strategic use of anthelmintics, is threatened by the emergence of roundworms populations that are resistant to one or more of the currently available drugs. In response to growing concerns of Anthelmintic Resistance (AR) development in UK sheep flocks, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) initiative was set up in 2003 in order to promote practical guidelines for producers and advisors. To facilitate the uptake of ‘best practice’ approaches to nematode management, a comprehensive understanding of the various factors influencing sheep farmers’ adoption of the SCOPS principles is required.A telephone survey of 400 Scottish sheep farmers was conducted to elicit attitudes regarding roundworm control, AR and ‘best practice’ recommendations. A quantitative statistical analysis approach using structural equation modelling was chosen to test the relationships between both observed and latent variables relating to general roundworm control beliefs. A model framework was developed to test the influence of socio-psychological factors on the uptake of sustainable (SCOPS) and known unsustainable (AR selective) roundworm control practices. The analysis identified eleven factors with significant influences on the adoption of SCOPS recommended practices and AR selective practices. Two models established a good fit with the observed data with each model explaining 54% and 47% of the variance in SCOPS and AR selective behaviours, respectively. The key influences toward the adoption of best practice parasite management, as well as demonstrating negative influences on employing AR selective practices were farmer’s base line understanding about roundworm control and confirmation about lack of anthelmintic efficacy in a flock. The findings suggest that improving farmers’ acceptance and uptake of diagnostic testing and improving underlying knowledge and awareness about nematode control may influence adoption of best practice behaviour.

Are economic conditions related to nonnormative life satisfaction development? Evaluating the relative impact of economic conditions, personality, and subjective health

AbstractThis study examined the relative contribution of psychological and socioeconomic resources to explaining qualitative individual differences in life satisfaction development. We used growth mixture modeling and a cohort‐sequential design to investigate life satisfaction development from ages 25 to 65, in a nationally representative panel (the Socioeconomic Panel). Eighty‐three percent of the participants experienced stability in life satisfaction. In a subgroup of individuals (10%), life satisfaction declined. This subgroup lived under less favorable economic conditions and reported downward moves on an index of socioeconomic status. In another subgroup (7%), life satisfaction was low at age 25 and increased up to age 65. This group was also socioeconomically disadvantaged but scored higher on adaptive personality traits and experienced upward social mobility. Generally, personality traits explained level differences in life satisfaction better than economic conditions. However, economic conditions explained nonnormative life satisfaction development better than generalized control beliefs and the Big Five traits.

Control beliefs and health locus of control in Ugandan, German and migrated sub-Saharan African HIV infected individuals

ObjectivesLittle is known about the influence of control beliefs on antiretroviral drug adherence in patients who migrated from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in health locus of control and control beliefs between HIV infected patients from sub-Saharan Africa with and without a lifetime experience of migration. MethodsA sample of 62 HIV infected consecutive patients referred to the HIV clinics at the University Hospital of Münster (Germany) and at the Rubaga Hospital Kampala (Uganda) were enrolled into this study. We compared three groups of patients: sub-Saharan African migrants, German patients, and local Ugandan patients. We used the German health and illness related control beliefs questionnaire (KKG), the Competence and control beliefs questionnaire (FKK), and the Powe Fatalism Inventory-HIV/AIDS-Version (PFI-HIV/AIDS-Version) and translated these scales into English and Luganda. In addition, the patients' sociodemographic, acculturation, clinical, and immunological data were registered. ResultsSignificant results were shown in HIV related external locus of control between migrated sub-Saharan African and local Ugandan patients compared to German patients. General control beliefs showed no significant differences. In the PFI-HIV-Version, there was a significant difference between migrated sub-Saharan African and Ugandan patients compared to German patients. ConclusionsOur data suggest that the experience of migration does not influence the locus of control. Compared to German HIV patients, African patients in general showed a significantly higher external health locus of control which might have implications for drug adherence.

Resistance to temptation: the interaction of external and internal control on alcohol use during residential treatment for alcohol use disorder.

BackgroundThere is evidence that drinking during residential treatment is related to various factors, such as patients' general control beliefs and self‐efficacy, as well as to external control of alcohol use by program's staff and situations where there is temptation to drink. As alcohol use during treatment has been shown to be associated with the resumption of alcohol use after discharge from residential treatment, we aimed to investigate how these variables are related to alcohol use during abstinence‐oriented residential treatment programs for alcohol use disorders (AUD).MethodsIn total, 509 patients who entered 1 of 2 residential abstinence‐oriented treatment programs for AUD were included in the study. After detoxification, patients completed a standardized diagnostic procedure including interviews and questionnaires. Drinking was assessed by patients' self‐report of at least 1 standard drink or by positive breathalyzer testing. The 2 residential programs were categorized as high or low control according to the average number of tests per patient.ResultsRegression analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between internal and external control suggesting that patients with high internal locus of control and high frequency of control by staff demonstrated the least alcohol use during treatment (16.7%) while patients with low internal locus of control in programs with low external control were more likely to use alcohol during treatment (45.9%). No effects were found for self‐efficacy and temptation.ConclusionsAs alcohol use during treatment is most likely associated with poor treatment outcomes, external control may improve treatment outcomes and particularly support patients with low internal locus of control, who show the highest risk for alcohol use during treatment. High external control may complement high internal control to improve alcohol use prevention while in treatment.

Malestar emocional, ansiedad y depresión en pacientes oncológicos colombianos y su relación con la competencia percibida

Objective: To determine the levels of distress, anxiety and depression and their relation with perceived competence (PC) in cancer patients. Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical data of 42 patients attending the psychology service of an oncology institution were collected. Also, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Perceived Competence Scale (PCS) were used. Descriptive, comparative and correlational statistics were obtained. Results: Mean age 49±10.6 years (rank 22-69), 83% female, the most frequent diagnosis was breast cancer (26.2%), 61.9% were in stage IV and more than half in palliative treatment. Scores of distress, anxiety and depression were medium-low and were moderate for PC. An inverse and significant relation between distress and PC was found (p < .01). Correlations between anxiety, depression and PC were non-significant. Conclusions: General control beliefs such as PC are closely related to the emotional state of patients. Research on PC is of importance given that general control beliefs may benefit adjustment along the illness trajectory

Malestar emocional, ansiedad y depresión en pacientes oncológicos colombianos y su relación con la competencia percibida

Objetivos: Determinar los índices de malestar emocional, ansiedad y depresión y examinar su relación con la competencia percibida (CP) en pacientes con cáncer. Método: Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y clínicos de 42 pacientes que consultaron un servicio de psicología de una institución oncológica. Se empleó la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria (HADS) y la Escala de Competencia Percibida (ECP). Se obtuvieron estadísticos descriptivos, comparativos y correlacionales. Resultados: Edad promedio 49 ± 10.6 años (rango 22-69), 83% de sexo femenino, diagnóstico más frecuente: cáncer de mama (26.2%). El 61.9% se encontraba en estadio IV, y más del 50%, en tratamiento paliativo. Las puntuaciones en malestar emocional, ansiedad y depresión fueron bajas-medias, y las de CP fueron moderadas. Se observó una relación inversa y significativa entre el malestar emocional y la CP (p &lt; .01). Sin embargo, la correlación entre ansiedad o depresión y CP no fue significativa. Conclusiones: Las creencias de control generales mantienen una relación estrecha con el estado emocional. El investigar sobre la CP tiene ventajas importantes, ya que las creencias generales de control pueden favorecer la adaptación en el proceso de enfermedad.

Control beliefs, emotional status and psychosocial adaptation in breast cancer patients at the follow-up stage.

In the follow-up stage, breast cancer patients (BCP) have previous control experiences, which determine the subsequent attribution and expectations of control beliefs. Aim: To determine the best profile of specific and more general control beliefs and assess their impact on emotional status and psychosocial adaptation over time. Method: 131 BCP were interviewed attending a standard follow-up protocol in the oncology outpatient unit. Results: Clusters having higher general control beliefs were associated with better emotional status and psychosocial adaptation than the cluster with lower general control beliefs and higher specific control beliefs. Moreover, two general control beliefs and one specific control belief were the best predictors of adaptation to illness over time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that overall perceptions of control are related to good emotional status and adaptation.

Variables emocionales y calidad de vida en pacientes en tratamiento de hemodiálisis

Theoretical Framework: In the follow-up stage, breast cancer patients (BCP) have previous control experiences, which determine the subsequent attribution and expectations of control beliefs. Aim: To determine the best profile of specific and more general control beliefs and assess their impact on emotional status and psychosocial adaptation over time. Method: One-hundred-thirty-one BCP were interviewed attending a standard follow-up protocol in the oncology outpatient unit. Results: Clusters having higher general control beliefs were associated with better emotional status and psychosocial adaptation than the cluster with lower general control beliefs and higher specific control beliefs. Moreover, two general control beliefs and one specific control belief were the best predictors of adaptation to illness over time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that overall perceptions of control are related to good emotional status and adaptation.

Taking Control: Examining the Influence of Locus of Control on the Treatment of Nightmares and Sleep Impairment in Veterans

Trauma exposure has been linked to external locus of control (E-LOC). This feeling of uncontrollability may be maintained after the trauma by recurring posttrauma nightmares. The present study utilized data from a larger trial, with 19 U.S. veterans, examining the efficacy of a modified version of treatment for nightmares, to examine changes in locus of control in relation to improvements in symptomatology following treatment. Following treatment, internal control beliefs about sleep and nightmares significantly increased, while general control beliefs did not change. Preliminary evidence that exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy for military personnel (ERRT-M) is associated with increased sense of control over sleep and nightmares was observed.

Psychometric properties of the multidimensional health locus of control scale form C in a non-Western culture.

Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (MHLC-C) was designed to investigate health-related control beliefs of persons with an existing medical condition. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of this instrument in a culture characterized by external control beliefs and learned helplessness—contrary to the societal context of original test development. Altogether, 374 Hungarian patients with cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders were enrolled in the study. Besides the MHLC-C, instruments measuring general control beliefs, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and health behaviors were also administered to evaluate the validity of the scale. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques were used to investigate the factor structure of the scale. Our results showed that the Hungarian adaptation of the instrument had a slightly different structure than the one originally hypothesized: in the present sample, a three-factor structure emerged where the items of the Doctors and the Others subscales loaded onto a single common component. Internal reliability of all three subscales was adequate (alphas between .71 and .79). Data concerning the instrument's validity were comparable with previous results from Western countries. These findings may suggest that health locus of control can be construed very similarly to Western countries even in a post-communist society—regardless of the potential differences in general control beliefs.

The choices we make: An examination of situation selection in younger and older adults.

The current study examined the effects of age and control beliefs on the use of situation selection. Younger and older adults spent 15 min in a room containing multiple affective streams that varied in emotional valence, and were given free choice to engage with whatever they wanted. No significant main effect of age emerged on the number of choices of, or time spent with, material of each valence. However, age and beliefs interacted such that older adults with strong emotion regulation self-efficacy and general control beliefs chose fewer negative stimuli, whereas younger adults with strong beliefs chose more negative stimuli. Results are discussed from aging and individual differences perspectives.

Exercising Control: Exercise Intention and Perceived Constraints in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis

Maintaining perceived psychological control in older adulthood is beneficial for health, well-being, and adjustment to chronic illness. Theoretically, control over specific, personally meaningful domains should inform general control beliefs. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine perceived control over the exercise domain (operationalized as exercise intention belief) for its ability to predict general control beliefs in a sample of older adults with chronic illness over 1 year. Longitudinal survey responses from 133 older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) were examined. Longitudinal hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that higher baseline exercise intention beliefs predicted a lower perception of constraints on control 9-12 months later, but did not predict changes in mastery beliefs. Results suggest that bolstering exercise intention beliefs may protect against age-related increases in psychological constraints on perceived control for older adults with OA.