Health locus of control

Health Locus of Control Model

1. Health Locus of Control M odel Hira Fatima Lecturer Psychology Government Post Graduate College for Women, Raiwind

2. Locus of Control A locus of control orientation is a belief about whether the outcomes of our actions are contingent on what we do (internal control orientation) or on events outside our personal control (external control orientation)

3. Historical Background In 1954, psychologist Julian Rotter suggested that our behavior was controlled by rewards and  punishmens  and that it was these consequences for our actions that determined our beliefs about the underlying causes of these actions. In 1966, Rotter published a scale designed to measure and assess external and internal locus of control. The scale utilizes a forced-choice between two alternatives, requiring respondents to choose just one of two possibilities for each item.

4. Internal and External L ocus of Control Internal Locus of Control: A belief that reinforcement is brought about by one’s own behavior. External Locus of control: belief that reinforcement is under the control of other people, fate or Luck. It is important to note that locus of control is a continuum. No one has a 100 percent external or internal locus of control. Instead, most people lie somewhere on the continuum between the two extremes.

5. Internal vs External L ocus of Control Internal Locus of Control Are more likely to take responsibility for their actions Tend to be less influenced by the opinions of other people Often do better at tasks when they are allowed to work at their own pace Usually, have a strong sense of self-efficacy Tend to work hard to achieve the things they want Feel confident in the face of challenges Tend to be physically healthier Report being happier and more independent Often achieve greater success in the workplace External Locus of Control Blame outside forces for their circumstances Often credit luck or chance for any successes Don't believe that they can change their situation through their own efforts Frequently feel hopeless or powerless in the face of difficult situations Are more prone to experiencing learned helplessness.

6. HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL MODEL

7. HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL MODEL The Health Locus of Control model is based on Rotter’s Social learning theory. It proposes that health behaviours are predicted by the extent to which an individual believes they can perform the behaviour and that it will be effective. Individuals with an internal locus of control (LOC) are more likely to take action to manage their symptoms than an individual with more external LOC who believes their symptoms are a result of chance and looks to other sources, such as the doctor, to manage their symptoms.

8. Health Locus of Control M odel The most widely used measure is the Multiple Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale, evaluating beliefs about health behaviours in general, and the variance in results might relate to individuals holding different beliefs depending on the situation. For example, an individual might have a high internal LOC for weight loss (i.e. they believe they are responsible and have the ability to reduce their weight) but a high external LOC for managing their arthritis, believing this is the doctor’s responsibility.

9. Health Locus of Control Among adults, external  locus of control  is associated with negative  health  outcomes, whereas internal  locus of control  is associated with favorable outcomes. On contary , Ryan et al (2003) found that within a medical consultation, contrary to the HLC model, an external LOC increased the patient’s perceived control over their ability to live with their arthritis. This may be because patients view their condition as too unpredictable and mutifacted to manage without external professional support and view the consultation as a partnership where their issues could be voiced and management appropriate to their needs provided.

10. THANK YOU!