does taking a health course change health locus of control?

DOES TAKING A HEALTH COURSE CHANGE HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL?
D.E. Green (Exercise Science), F.A. Kavas (Professor, Health Education)
Results
Background
The concept of locus of control finds its origin in social
learning theory and holds that individuals develop
expectations about what determines different life outcomes
through their previous life experiences (1). Wallston et al.
expanded the number of expectancy dimensions in the
multidimensional health locus of control scale, which
measures Internal, Chance, and Powerful Others orientations
(2). Health locus of control (HLC) is believed to be important,
as it is thought to determine whether individuals will take
responsibility for their own health or not. Because individuals
with a high internal HLC believe that their health is influenced
by their own efforts and skills, they are more likely to engage
in health-promoting and -sustaining activities. In contrast,
individuals with a more external HLC are less likely to engage
in positive health practices, as they believe that their health is
beyond their control and determined by powerful others, fate
or chance. Some data may suggest a difference in HLC by
gender (1).
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Health Locus of
Control of Winston-Salem State University students, both
male and female, before and after they had taken a college
level health course.
Our hypotheses were that 1) students who took a health
course would be more able to control their own health and 2)
that females would have a higher internal and powerful other
Health Locus of Control
Methods
Average HLC Category Differences
Internal
Generally
students had
higher internal
locus of
control than
powerful other
or chance
locus of
control.
Powerful Other
Chance
0
0.5
1
1.5
Chance
3.09
Series1
2
2.5
3
3.5
Powerful Other
3.39
4
4.5
Internal
4.26
Average HLC Category Differences Before and
After Taking a Health Course
In most
categories
there was no
statistically
significant
difference in
averages
before and
after taking
the Concepts
of Fitness and
Health course.
Limitations
The survey was done only at one university. The course
only lasted over one semester which may not be enough
time to change the health locus of control of the
students.
Chance
Powerful Other
Internal
0
0.5
1
1.5
Internal
4.42
4.1
Before
After
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Powerful Other
3.33
3.45
4.5
5
Chance
3.98
3.2
Average Male and Female Differences by HLC
Category
Internal
Powerful Other
Chance
0
Male
Female
In order to obtain the data to support our hypotheses we
utilized the Health Locus of Control Survey which consists
of 18 statements divided into three categories: Internal,
powerful other, and chance. The 223 students taking the
Concepts of Fitness and Health course at WSSU were
asked to fill out the entire health locus of control survey
however we focused on form B. The scale for each
statement ranged from one (strongly disagree) to six
(strongly agree) and was averaged for each student. TTest was used to analyze the data and significance level
was set at < 0.05.
0.5
1
Chance
3.03
3.11
1.5
2
2.5
3
Powerful Other
3.4
3.38
3.5
4
Internal
4.31
4.24
4.5
5
For all
categories
there was no
significant
difference
between the
averages for
males and
females.
Conclusion
We were not able to support our hypotheses because our
results indicated no change in all categories, between
genders, and before and after taking the course. Future
studies pertaining to Health Locus of Control should
include a larger group of students at different universities
and should be done over a longer period of time.
References:
1.
2.
Poortingaa, W., et. al. (2008) Health locus of control beliefs and socio-economic
differences in self-rated health. Preventative Medicine, 46 (4), 374-380
Wallston, K.A. et. al. (1978) Development of the MHLC scales. Health Education
Monographs.6, 160-170

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