The psychometric properties of a new 8-item measure, the Sleep Locus of Control Scale (SLOC), were investigated. A sample of 425 adult alumnae from the University of Manitoba and 57 community volunteers with chronic insomnia were surveyed. Results showed that the SLOC had acceptable reliability (i.e., internal consistency) and demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity through patterns of association with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (Wallston, Wallston, & DeVellis, 1978). Principal factors extraction with varimax rotation identified two factors underlying the SLOC Scale. One factor captured an internal sleep locus of control orientation and the other reflected a chance sleep locus of control orientation. In the adult alumnae sample, having a more chance sleep locus of control was associated with greater perfectionism, depression, and anxiety. In adults with chronic insomnia, having a more internal sleep locus of control orientation was associated with increased sleep-related anxiety. One implication of the study is that too much emphasis on developing an internal sleep locus of control may be counterproductive (i.e., associated with increased sleep-related anxiety). Instead, achieving a balance between an internal and chance sleep locus of control orientation may be an important goal when treating individuals with chronic insomnia.

This study examined the emotional and behavioral reactions of 118 predominantly Euro-American, middle-class university students toward an alleged spousal abuse victim. In the context of a decision-making task, participants encountered another male or female student (a confederate) who was supposedly injured in an accident or a spousal abuse incident. Participants completed the Trait Questionnaire, Emotional Reaction Measure, and Social Distancing Measure. Generally, participants felt less sympathy and more anger and ascribed less positive traits to the abuse victim than to the accident victim. In addition, they distanced themselves socially from the abuse victim. Further analyses showed that female participants displayed more negative trait ascriptions and behavioral reactions to the abuse victims than did male participants.

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