Health Locus of Control, Health Related Behaviors and Demographic Factors: A Study in a Turkish Population

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between socio-demographic variables and the health locus of control (HLC) as well as health locus of control and health-related behaviors. Study Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in 2012 in the fourth largest city of Turkey. Data collection lasted about six months. Methodology: Participation in this study was voluntary and data collection was conducted anonymously. Convenience sampling was used. People on the streets, in parks, in shopping centers, metro stations, and students at the university campus were informed about the study and asked to participate. A total of 1125 people were asked and 885 gave their verbal consent. The participation ratio was 78.7%. The study participants (437 women and 448 men aged 18-84 years) filled out the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale, together with a questionnaire about their social, demographic and economic characteristics and a questionnaire regarding their health-related behaviors which was consisted of 10 items. Results: The Cronbach  of the MHLC scale was within the range 0.74-0.78. Internal health locus of control was determined in 71.4% of the participants; chance in 10.3% and powerful others in 18.3%. The rate of powerful others health locus of control (HLC) increased with age. There were no HLC differences between males and females. No significant relationship was found between socio-economic characteristics and HLC. Of the evaluated 10 health related behaviors, physical exercise; reading health related printed material; checking food expiry dates, and reading food content labels were found to be significantly related to HLC. Conclusion: Except for age, no significant associations were found between socio-demographics and health locus of control. The impact of HLC on health related behaviors was small.