Risk perception and behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predicting variables of compliance with lockdown measures

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to counteract it have highlighted the role of individual differences in evaluating and reacting to emergencies, and the challenges inherent in promoting precautionary behaviours. We aimed to explore the psychological and cognitive factors modulating behaviour and intentions during the national lockdown in Italy. We administered an online questionnaire (N = 244) that included tests for assessing personality traits (Temperament and Character Inventory; Locus of Control of Behaviour) and moral judgment (Moral Foundations Questionnaire), alongside behavioural economics tasks addressing different facets of risk attitude (loss aversion, risk aversion and delay discounting). We then assessed the extent to which individual variations in these dimensions modulated participants’ compliance with the lockdown norms. When assessing their joint contribution via multiple regressions, lockdown adherence was mostly predicted by internal locus of control, psycho-economic dimensions suggestive of long-sighted and loss-averse attitudes, as well as personality traits related to cautionary behaviour, such as harm avoidance, and the authority moral concern. These findings show that a multi-domain assessment of the factors underlying personal intentions, and thus driving compliance with government measures, can help predict individuals’ actions during health emergencies. This evidence points to factors that should be considered when developing interventions and communication strategies to promote precautionary behaviours.

Locus of control and culture of poverty. An appraisal of Lawrence M. Mead’s ideas in ‘Culture and Poverty’

Lawrence M. Mead presented an interesting argument as to why poverty exists in the United States. He problematizes the culture of the poor of which ethnic minorities over-represent. By referring to the geographic regions from which these ethnic minorities came from, he globalised the question of poverty in the US. This invites a global policy debate rather than a US-centric policy debate. Indeed, Mead so freely made references to Africa and the African culture severally throughout his commentary. It is against this backdrop that I show that Mead was right to a large extent on the question of inner-driven individualised orientation. However, he overestimates its influence and misreads what culture is. He presented the culture of poverty as the antecedent of poverty. It was concluded that manipulating both internal drive (internal locus of control) and the structure of society is a more effective way to tackle poverty.

Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja, Self Efficacy dan Internal Locus of Control Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Badan Kredit Desa (BKD)

Latar Belakang:Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh data yang menunjukkan adanya persaingan antara Badan Kredit Desa (BKD) dengan bank umum lainnya yang dapat mempengaruhi kinerja karyawan, sehingga peneliti tertarik untuk melakukan penelitian ini.Tujuan:Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh motivasi kerja, self efficacy, dan internal locus of control terhadap kinerja karyawan BKD.Metode Penelitian:Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survey dengan menyebar 132 kuesioner kepada karyawan BKD. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Teknik analisis data menggunakan regresi linear berganda dengan aplikasi SPSS versi 2.0.Hasil Penelitian:Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa motivasi kerja berpengaruh positif terhadap kinerja karyawan, self efficacy dan internal locus of control tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja karyawan.Keterbatasan Penelitian:Penelitian ini hanya menggunakan data kuesioner, tanpa menggunakan wawancara sehingga hasil yang diperoleh kurang optimal.Keaslian/Novetly Penelitian:Penelitian ini menambah variabel independen motivasi kerja dan menggunakan objek penelitian yaitu Badan Kredit Desa. Variabel motivasi kerja ditambah karena hasil motivasi kerja sebelumnya belum konsisten.

Investor Characteristics and their Impact on the Decision to use a Robo-advisor

We survey 231 undergraduate students to analyze how retail investors’ characteristics influence their decision to use a robo-advisor. Characteristics such as the willingness to take risk, extraversion, and optimism are significant in univariate tests but the willingness to take risk and the internal locus of control are significant in multivariate settings. Participants who use the robo-advisor invest more and are more likely to also invest on their own in both stocks and bonds. We also find statistically significant differences between participants who exclusively use the robo-advisor for investments in stocks and bonds and participants who use the robo-advisor and invest some money in stocks and bonds on their own.

Do Individual Factors Matter? Examining Auditor Judgement Bias and Public Accounting Firm Size

Auditor personality is a topic of interest within the accounting field due to the scarcity of research on accountant personalities in Indonesia. This research aimed to examine the moderating effect of public accounting firm size, personality traits and locus of control on the correlation between role conflict and auditor judgement bias. The sample comprises auditors who work at public accounting firms in Java province and the study uses regression analysis as its method of analysis. The result shows that only internal locus of control has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between role conflict and auditor judgement bias. This indicates that auditor personality and public accounting firm size do not affect auditors’ professionalism in making judgements.

Locus of Control and Dizziness: Mediation Effect of Self-Efficacy

Objectives: An attention to psychological aspects can clarify the understanding and management of patients with unresolved dizziness/vertigo. Thus, we study the locus of control and the mediation effect of self-efficacy for assessing the relationship between locus of control and dizziness/vertigo in a referral-based dizziness clinic.Methods: We analyzed the dizziness-specific locus of control and self-efficacy using the modified questionnaire in 117 consecutive dizzy patients (34 males; age range, 20–74 years). In addition to the visual analogue scale-dizziness for evaluation of subjective dizziness, the following items were further evaluated; Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Korean Beck Depression Inventory II, and Korean Beck Anxiety Inventory. According to the verification procedure proposed by Hayes, the mediation effect of self-efficacy verifies the relationship between the locus of control and dizziness through analysis.Results: Except the scale of emotion such as anxiety and depression, sex, age, duration of illness, and diagnosis all did not significantly affect the dependent variables. Vestibular migraine (39.3%), vestibulopathy (15.4%), and dizziness associated with anxiety and depression (14.5%) were the most common diagnoses. On all scales, Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.72 to 0.94. In the direct effect, the internal locus of control had a tendency of aggravation of dizziness/vertigo, but in the indirect effect, the higher the internal locus of control, the higher the self-efficacy, and the higher the self-efficacy, the lower the dizziness.Conclusions: In our study, we can assume that the locus of control can impart ambivalent effects on dizziness/vertigo. And the modulation of self-efficacy could be another treatment for patients with unresolved dizziness.

Analisis Faktor- Faktor yang memengaruhi Financial Behavior (Studi Kasus pengguna e-wallet)

Era modern pada masa kini menunjukkan perkembangan dan inovasi dalam ranah teknologi sehingga menimbulkan banyak kemudahan yang ditawarkan, salah satunya kemudahan dalam bertransaksi ekonomi. Dompet elektronik (e-wallet) merupakan salah satu bukti perubahan dalam sistem pembayaran yang semakin beradaptasi dengan perkembangan teknologi. Penggunaan e-wallet menimbulkan kemungkinan meningkatnya sifat konsumtif masyarakat usia produktif, terkhususnya Alumni STIE Indonesia Banking School. Financial Behavior pada sekarang menjadi perhatian yang harus dipertimbangkan, karena seseorang dengan Financial Behavior yang bertanggung jawab akan melindunginya dari kegagaln dalam mengelola uang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji hubungan antara Financial Knowledge dan Financial Attitude terhadap Financial Behavior baik secara langsung maupun melalui Internal Locus of Control sebagai variabel mediasi. Sampel terdiri dari 151 Alumni STIE Indonesia Banking School Angkatan 2004-2016, dimana dalam pemilihan sampel penerapan teknik purposive sampling digunakan. Model analisis data adalah Structural Equation Modelling pada aplikasi Smart PLS 3.0. Ditemukan adanya pengaruh yang signifikan dan positif antara Financial Knowledge dan Financial Attitude terhadap Financial Behavior baik secara langsung maupun melalui Internal Locus of Control, sifat mediasi pada penelitian ini adalah mediasi sebagian.Kata Kunci : Internal Locus of Control, Financial Behavior, Financial Knowledge, dan Financial Attitude

LOKUS KONTROLE I PERCIPIRANA SOCIJALNA PODRŠKA KAO PREDIKTORI NIVOA STRESA KOD ADOLESCENATA

Adolescence brings with it different types of changes in people – such as physical, emotional and cognitive, which can be quite stressful. Some of the factors that can be protective against stress in the transition period of high school completion are the locus of control and perceived social support. The aim of the study is to examine whether, and to what extent, stress levels in adolescents can be predicted based on the locus of control of adolescents as well as based on perceived social support. The research examined 190 adult high school students (Nmale = 80; Nfemale = 110) from six municipalities in Serbia. The following instruments were used: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and The Multidimensional Locus of Control (IPC). The results showed that the dimensions Internal locus of control (β = - .30, p < .000), Family support (β = -.21, p = .002) and Powerful others (β = .190, p = .020) contribute statistically significantly to explaining the level variance stress in adolescents. Considering the intergroup differences by gender, it can be concluded that boys and girls differ statistically significantly only on the variable Stress, i.e., that girls have a higher level of stress compared to boys, t (188) = -2.411, p =.017. The only statistically significant intergroup difference when it comes to the order of birth is observed in the variable Internal locus of control, t (188) = -2.116, p =.036, where in first-born children a statistically significantly lower level of internal locus of control can be found compared to children born later. Key words: stress, adolescence, locus of control, perceived social support

The Relationship Between Locus of Control, Self-Efficacy, and Entitlement in the United States

A small body of prior research that utilises a unidimensional conceptualisation of psychological entitlement suggests that individuals with a more internal locus of control and higher levels of self-efficacy tend to have lower levels of entitlement. However, prior research has not explored how locus of control and self-efficacy interact to predict entitlement using a multidimensional conceptualisation of entitlement. In the current quantitative research study, the researchers sought to explore the interaction between locus of control and general self-efficacy in predicting the multiple dimensions of psychological entitlement. A nationwide sample of 316 adult participants from the United States completed an anonymous survey measuring locus of control, self-efficacy, and entitlement. A hierarchical multiple regression indicated that general self-efficacy and locus of control significantly predict active and revenge entitlement, but there were no significant interactions between the predictor variables. Individuals with higher general self-efficacy demonstrated lower levels of active entitlement and higher levels of revenge entitlement. Individuals with a more external locus of control demonstrated lower levels of both active and revenge entitlement. No significant relationships were found for the traditional maladaptive conceptualisation of entitlement or passive entitlement.

Mental well-being, health, and locus of control in Danish adults before and during COVID-19

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate possible impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on general health, mental well-being, and experiences of control compared to pre-pandemic populations. Our hypotheses were that we would observe a significant lower level of psychological wellbeing and general health in the 2020 sample compared to the prepandemic samples, and that we would observe younger age groups to be the most effected. Method: Two representative Danish populations (2016, n=1656) and (2017, n=3366) were compared to a representative Danish population (n=1538) sampled during the first lockdown in May 2020. Two-tailed tests of proportions were used to investigate possible differences between samples in proportions reporting poorer mental well-being measured by WHO-5, general health, and internal locus of control. Results: Younger men (aged 18 24) and younger women (aged 18 – 44) as well as elderly women (aged 65-74) reported lower mental well-being during the early phase of the pandemic compared to the population from 2016. Both women and men in 2020 to report significantly lower levels of internal locus of control compared to the 2017 sample. This was especially true for younger men and women. There were no statistically significant differences in general health between populations. Discussion: This study partly supports the hypothesis that the the Covid-19 pandemic affected mental well-being negatively among younger persons. However, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate possible longterm effects of the pandemic on mental health and well-being. Further, qualitative studies are needed to investigate in-depth the consequenses of Covid-19.