scholarly journals Locus of control moderates the association of COVID-19 stress and general mental distress: results of a Norwegian and a German-speaking cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Krampe ◽  
Lars Johan Danbolt ◽  
Annie Haver ◽  
Gry Stålsett ◽  
Tatjana Schnell
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
External Locus Of Control

Abstract Background An internal locus of control (LoC I) refers to the belief that the outcome of events in one’s life is contingent upon one’s actions, whereas an external locus of control (LoC E) describes the belief that chance and powerful others control one’s life. This study investigated whether LoC I and LoC E moderated the relationship between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress in the general population during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional survey study analysed data from a Norwegian (n = 1225) and a German-speaking sample (n = 1527). We measured LoC with the Locus of Control-4 Scale (IE-4), COVID-19 stress with a scale developed for this purpose, and mental distress with the Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4). Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results The association between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress was strong (r = .61 and r = .55 for the Norwegian and the German-speaking sample, respectively). In both samples, LoC showed substantial moderation effects. LoC I served as a buffer (p < .001), and LoC E exacerbated (p < .001) the relation between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress. Conclusions The data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is easier to bear for people who, despite pandemic-related strains, feel that they generally have influence over their own lives. An external locus of control, conversely, is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The prevention of mental distress may be supported by enabling a sense of control through citizen participation in policy decisions and transparent explanation in their implementation.

scholarly journals Locus of control moderates the association of COVID-19 stress and general mental distress: Results of a cross-sectional survey in two large samples from Norway, Germany, and Austria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Krampe ◽  
Lars Johan Danbolt ◽  
Annie Haver ◽  
Gry Stålsett ◽  
Tatjana Schnell
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
External Locus Of Control

Abstract Background: An internal locus of control (LoC I) refers to the belief that the outcome of events in one’s life is contingent upon one’s actions, whereas an external locus of control (LoC E) describes the belief that chance and powerful others control one's life. This study investigated whether LoC I and LoC E moderated the relationship between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress in the general population during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study analysed data from a Norwegian (n=1,225) and a German-speaking sample (n=1,527). We measured LoC with the Locus of Control-4 Scale (IE-4), COVID-19 stress with a scale developed for this purpose, and mental distress with the Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4). Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results: The association between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress was strong (r=.61 and r=.55 for the Norwegian and the German-speaking sample, respectively). In both samples, LoC showed substantial moderation effects. LoC I served as a buffer (p<.001), and LoC E exacerbated (p<.001) the relation between COVID-19 stress and general mental distress. Conclusions: The data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is easier to bear for people who, despite pandemic-related strains, feel that they generally have influence over their own lives. An external locus of control, conversely, is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The prevention of mental distress may be supported by enabling a sense of control through citizen participation in policy decisions and transparent explanation in their implementation.

Locus of control and entrepreneurial intention: a study in a developing economy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Arkorful ◽  
Sam Kris Hilton
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Locus Of Control

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of locus of control (internal and external) on entrepreneurial intention of final year undergraduate students in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs. It also employs quantitative approach to collect the data from 300 final year undergraduate students in selected universities in Ghana. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and hierarchical regression techniques.FindingsThe results reveal that there is a positive relationship between locus of control (both internal and external) and entrepreneurial intention. However, it is found that external locus of control has more influence on entrepreneurial intention compared to internal locus of control. In addition, gender has no controlling effect on the relationship between locus of control and entrepreneurial intention.Practical implicationsThe findings imply that entrepreneurial course contents should include topics on locus of control that will expose the students to the reality of their environments so as to learn how to take control and create opportunities out of their environments. Again, students should be encouraged and educated on how to build up personality traits such as the need for achievement, innovativeness and risk-taking, since these traits have direct impact on their locus of control which in turn impacts on their entrepreneurial intentions.Originality/valueThis study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by investigating determinants of entrepreneurial intention from a different perspective, and reveals that individuals (regardless of their gender) with external locus of control are more likely to become entrepreneurs in a developing economy.

scholarly journals The mid-childhood and adolescent antecedents of women’s external locus of control orientation

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Golding ◽  
Steven Gregory ◽  
Yasmin Iles-Caven ◽  
Stephen Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Cigarette Smoke Exposure ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Control Orientation ◽  
External Locus Of Control

Background: External locus of control orientation (ELOC) is a powerful predictor of adverse consequences in regard to health, educational attainment, inter-personal relationships and well-being. Although many cross-sectional studies have been carried out, relatively little is known about antecedent factors influencing the development of ELOC. Methods: Over 12,000 pregnant women who enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in south-west England, had completed a brief version of the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External LOC scale, together with detailed questions concerning their own parents and childhood.  A series of hypothesis-free structured backwards stepwise logistic regression analyses used an exposome approach with ELOC as the outcome. Results: Significant positive associations were found with smoking of the parents of the surveyed women, including prenatal exposure, and their own onset of regular smoking in mid-childhood (6-11 years). Increased odds of ELOC were also found with the absence of their fathers in early childhood, presence of older siblings, and with being born and brought up in the same area as they resided in at the time surveyed. Protective influences in the surveyed women included positive rating of their mother’s care, having a relatively educated mother, attending boarding school, their own age (the older they were, the less likely were they to have an external orientation), having a mentally ill parent, a sibling hospitalized or a relative die. Conclusions: There are two conclusions: (i) that not all stressful events contribute to the development of ELOC and it would be essential for models of antecedents of ELOC to take note of this complexity, and (ii) there are consistent (albeit unexpected) findings that highlight associations with cigarette smoke exposure of the woman from fetal life through to when starting to smoke regularly herself in mid-childhood. It is important that these findings are tested in other populations.

scholarly journals Perceived discrimination and relative deprivation in Chinese migrant adolescents: the mediating effect of locus of control and moderating effect of duration since migration

2022 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Xiong ◽  
Wendy Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Urban Migrant ◽  
External Locus Of Control ◽  
Migrant Adolescents

Abstract Background Associations between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation have been observed among both general and migrant populations. However, it is unclear how, and under what conditions, perceived discrimination relates to relative deprivation, a subjective cognition and affective experience in which individuals or groups perceive themselves as disadvantaged, compared to their peers. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model to examine the roles of locus of control and duration since migration in the relationship between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sampling method in three coastal cities in southeast China. We recruited 625 Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents, who completed a battery of questionnaires assessing perceived discrimination, relative deprivation, locus of control, and demographic variables. Regression-based statistical mediation and moderation were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results After controlling for sex and age, perceived discrimination was positively associated with migrant adolescents’ relative deprivation, and external locus of control partially mediated this connection. Furthermore, the mediating effect was moderated by the duration of the migration. In relatively recently migrated adolescents, perceived discrimination was significantly related to relative deprivation through a greater external locus of control; however, this indirect association was not significant for adolescents with long-term migratory duration. Conclusion The results of our analysis expand our understanding of the link between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation. Moreover, these findings may provide practical guidance for interventions among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents to raise their social status and improve their mental health by addressing the macro-social psychological causes of relative deprivation.

scholarly journals The Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak on Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadir Bilgi ◽  
Gamze Aytaş ◽  
Utku Karatoprak ◽  
Rümeyza Kazancıoǧlu ◽  
Semra Özçelik
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Educational Activities ◽  
First Case ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Health

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has influenced the whole world, where after the first case was diagnosed in Turkey, educational activities were suspended and partial curfews were implemented. This study was conducted to assess the concerns faced by the medical students about their professional life due to the disrupted educational activities and related psychological effects.Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey study, conducted with self-administered questionnaires on Bezmialem Vakif University medical students, during the pandemic. The questionnaire consists of queries about demographics, environmental factors, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales.Results: A total of 178 students participated in the study, with a female-to-male ratio of 5:2. Of the total respondents, 19.7% were experiencing severe anxiety, 17.4% moderate anxiety, and 37.1% mild anxiety, according to the GAD-7; and 13.5% of the respondents were experiencing severe depression, 21.9% moderate–severe depression, and 23% mild depression according to the PHQ-9. There was no statistically significant difference between the grades in terms of GAD-7 or PHQ-9 scores. Male participants were more likely to have suicidal thoughts (p = 0.013). According to our study, the factors with the highest influence on students were as follows: “Major changes in personal life,” “Disruption in educational activities,” and “Covid-19 related anxiety of loss of relatives and contamination or infection.” On average, women voted higher points for “Covid-19 related anxiety of loss of relatives and contamination.”Conclusions: We found that a significant portion of students regardless of their year in medical school were profoundly affected by the pandemic process as is shown by their anxiety and depression scores. The disruption in educational activities is one of the main factors of these effects, and we believe that these should not be ignored, as they could in the future lead to a series of problems for medical education and students alike.

scholarly journals Impact of External Locus of Control on Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusran Haskas ◽  
Suarnianti Suarnianti ◽  
Sri Angriani ◽  
Erna Kadrianti ◽  
Indah Restika
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Locus Of Control ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
External Locus Of Control

Abstract Background: Quality of life is an illustration of an individual’s livelihood, as related to daily activities, in order to own a typical life, especially with reference to health. Individuals with diabetes mellitus have a quality of life that is quite diverse and affects the health conditions of all related people. It is this point that the role of locus of control is contemplated in maintaining the quality of life for these individuals. This study aim to analyze the influence of locus of control in patients with diabetes mellitus, in relation to the quality of life they lead.Methods: This observational survey based study was performed by implementing a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in type B and C hospitals and health centers of Makassar City and included 389 respondents. Data analysis was done using the chi-square test.Result: The result showed that the locus of control had a significant effect on the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ρ<0.01; α=0.05).Conclusions: The locus of control significantly affects the quality of life of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. People with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had an external locus of control, were observed to be more dominant and did not own a good quality of life because such individuals are very dependent on the external environment rather than the environment within them. The result of this study also indicate that locus of control may be regarded as the basis in predicting the future quality of life of an individual.

scholarly journals Locus of Control - A Dental Student Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 573-576
Author(s):  
Othman Wali ◽  
Shanthi Vanka ◽  
Amit Vanka ◽  
Nouf Alamoudi
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Dental School ◽  
Dental Student ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internal Locus ◽  
Internal Locus Of Control ◽  
External Locus Of Control

BACKGROUND Students from various backgrounds and places join graduation courses in Dentistry. The environmental influence on them is varied. Academic self-concept also has been found to be a significant predictor of students’ academic achievement in the college resulting in an increase in the grade point average of the students. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the student and their academic relationship to the environment in the dental school which is the internal and external locus of control. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study. The method of collection of data is through a questionnaire. The questionnaire had details related to the demographic data of gender and year of study in the dental school. Questions on locus of control have been adapted from the Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 23. Chi square test was used to test the associations between the variables and a value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS 402 participants including students from 2nd year to internship filled the survey questionnaire. In general, majority of the participants displayed a higher external locus of control. CONCLUSIONS The study participants who responded showed more external locus of control compared to the internal locus of control. Strategies should be planned and tailored to improve student support and student education. They should include a very comprehensive orientation to the students including both long term and short-term objectives. KEY WORDS External Locus of Control, Internal Locus of Control, Cross Sectional Study

scholarly journals Frontline healthcare workers’ mental distress, top concerns, and assessment on hierarchy of controls in response to COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Zhang ◽  
Kimberlee L. Flike ◽  
C. Ann Gakumo ◽  
Ling Shi ◽  
Suzanne G. Leveille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers

Abstract Background The existing studies showed that frontline healthcare workers during an epidemic experienced unusual stressors and mental distress which even lasted for years after the crisis. It is important to learn about their concerns early to mitigate the negative impact as well as to evaluate disease control from experiences on the front lines for improving responses to the outbreak. The study aimed to provide insights on how to strengthen public health responses to protect healthcare workers both physically and mentally, and effectively control the disease in light of hierarchy of controls. Methods A cross-sectional survey was distributed online via Qualtrics to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 through a university’s nursing program and received 267 valid responses from 103 certificated nursing assistants, 125 nurses, and 39 other health professionals. A descriptive data analysis with a Chi-square test at a two-sided 0.05 level of significance was performed on factors that potentially affected mental health of healthcare workers and effectiveness of disease control at workplace in five domains. The themes were summarized on open-ended questions. Results About 30% of the respondents showed the symptom of depression and needed a further investigation. The influencing factors in five domains were examined. Engineering and administrative controls, as well as PPE were widely used in response to COVID-19. The respondents assessed the state and workplace responses to COVID-19 better than the federal government responses. The workplace responses were considered most effective. Multiple factors with a statistically significant correlation with effectiveness of the disease control at workplace were identified. Conclusions The study suggested that timely responses at policy level will be more effective than other measures in early prevention and control of the pandemic, mental distress should be addressed in addition to PPE, and nursing programs should consider providing a situation-specific career coaching or counseling for students. A longitudinal study at a larger scale is warranted to capture the variation of time change with the disease control evolvement and across geographic regions.

scholarly journals The mid-childhood and adolescent antecedents of women’s external locus of control orientation

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Golding ◽  
Steven Gregory ◽  
Yasmin Iles-Caven ◽  
Stephen Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Cigarette Smoke Exposure ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
External Locus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Control Orientation ◽  
External Locus Of Control

Background: External locus of control orientation (ELOC) is a powerful predictor of adverse consequences in regard to health, educational attainment, inter-personal relationships and well-being. Although many cross-sectional studies have been carried out, relatively little is known about antecedent factors influencing the development of ELOC. Methods: Over 12,000 pregnant women who enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in south-west England, had completed a brief version of the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External LOC scale, together with detailed questions concerning their own parents and childhood.  A series of hypothesis-free structured backwards stepwise logistic regression analyses used an exposome approach with ELOC as the outcome. Results: Significant positive associations were found with smoking of the parents of the surveyed women, including prenatal exposure, and their own onset of regular smoking in mid-childhood (6-11 years). Increased odds of ELOC were also found with the absence of their fathers in early childhood, presence of older siblings, and with being born and brought up in the same area as they resided in at the time surveyed. Protective influences in the surveyed women included positive rating of their mother’s care, having a relatively educated mother, attending boarding school, their own age (the older they were, the less likely were they to have an external orientation), having a mentally ill parent, a sibling hospitalized or a relative die. Conclusions: There are two conclusions: (i) that not all stressful events contribute to the development of ELOC and it would be essential for models of antecedents of ELOC to take note of this complexity, and (ii) there are consistent (albeit unexpected) findings that highlight associations with cigarette smoke exposure of the woman from fetal life through to when starting to smoke regularly herself in mid-childhood. It is important that these findings are tested in other populations.

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