Health Locus of Control and Health Behaviour

Abstract

A representative sample of 11,632 people completed a questionnaire measuring health locus of control, health value and a number of health behaviours as part of the 1989 Health in Wales Survey. Measures of smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and diet were combined to form a health behaviour index, representing key 'lifestyle' indicators. In line with predictions, scores on this measure were positively associated with internal health locus of control scores, and negatively associated with scores on the chance and powerful others dimensions. Classifying respondents according to Wallston and Wallston's (1981) health locus of control typology revealed that 'pure internals' performed the most health behaviours. Some evidence was found to suggest that health value moderates the relationship between health locus of control and health behaviour, although overall the health locus of control construct was found to be a weak predictor of health behaviour. The results are discussed in relation to the need to consider other expectancy beliefs when predicting health behaviour.