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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Defensiveness (Psychology); Health behavior--Research; Locus of control;

Abstract

The present study attempted to apply the concept of defensive externality (Rotter, 1966) to health locus of control and preventive health behavior. The study attempted to identify a subgroup of externals, called "health defensive externals," and determine how they may differ from congruent internals and congruent externals in terms of health beliefs and coping strategies. Health defensive externals were thought to score high on chance health locus of control (CHLC) and yet engage in a high number of preventive health behaviors. Participants were recruited from a local chiropractor's office and a local community health clinic. They completed a modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scales, a health behavior measure, a health value measure, a worry measure, a modified version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, and a number of demographic questions. Participants from the chiropractor's office were found to be older, higher on internal health locus of control (IHLC) scale scores, and higher on health behavior scores than individuals from the local community health clinic. Individuals from the chiropractor's office were more likely to be employed than individuals from the community health clinic. Health defensive externals were found to exist. Unexpectedly, health defensive externals, congruent internals, and congruent externals were not found to differ significantly on health value, worry over health threats, and reports of chronic and acute illnesses. Congruent externals were found to use escape/avoidance, a form of emotion-focused coping, significantly more than congruent internals. Health defensive externals scored between congruent externals and congruent internals on escape/avoidance but were not significantly different from either group. Health defensive externals, congruent internals, and congruent externals differed significantly on IHLC scale scores such that congruent internals scored highest, followed by health defensive externals, and congruent externals. Limitations of the research, directions for future research, and the theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

Year of Submission

1997

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Psychology

First Advisor

M. Shelton Smith

Second Advisor

Francisco Barrios

Third Advisor

David Whitsett

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

1997

Object Description

1 PDF file (100 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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