Dogmatism and locus of control in individuals who smoke, stopped smoking and never smoked

Internal–external expectancies and health-related behaviors.

“…Following the growing concern in the 1960s about a link between cigarette smoking and cancer, numerous studies were conducted which suggested that individuals who were not smokers or individuals who were able to stop smoking were more internal than individuals who smoked (Coan, 1973;James, Woodruff, & Werner, 196S;Mlott & Mlott, 1975;Steffy, Meichenbaum, & Best, 1970;Straits & Scchrest, 1963;Williams, 1973;Platt, Note 3). These results have not always been replicated (Danaher, 1977;Lichtenstein & Keutzer, 1967), but taken together they do suggest that individuals with internal rather than ex-ternal expectancies are more likely to take action to improve their health habits, particularly when faced with evidence that needed changes may result in improved physical functioning.…”

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Smokers: Correlations with External Health Control, Health Expectations, and Shame-Focused Coping Strategies

“…Research has found relationships between chance health locus of control (Wallston, 1989;Wallston, Wallston, & DeVellis, 1978) and passive coping strategies like self-blame, acceptance, and humor (Masters & Wallston, 2005). Other research on health locus of control specific to smoking found evidence that individuals with internal versus external locus of control orientation were more likely to be nonsmokers or were able to stop smoking (Coan, 1973;Eiser, Eiser, Gammage, & Morgan, 1989;James, Woodruff, & Werner, 1965;Mlott & Mlott, 1975;Steffy, Meichenbaum, & Best, 1970;Straits & Sechrest, 1963;Williams, 1973) and evidenced greater success in smoking cessation programs (Schwebel & Kaemmerer, 1977;Strickland, 1978). Other studies, however, were less conclusive (Danaher, 1977;Lichtenstein & Keutzer, 1967).…”

Application of the Rotter scale of internal‐external locus of control to determine differences between smokers, non‐smokers and ex‐smokers in their general locus of control

“…One particular health-related aspect in which locus of control is thought to be significant is that of cigarette smoking, as discussed by Georgiou & Bradley (1992). Several studies have revealed a relationship that indicates that smokers have a more external locus of control than non-smokers (James et al 1965, Williams 1973, Clarke et al 1982, Penny & Robinson 1986, Desmond et al 1987 and internals are more likely to achieve and maintain abstinence than external individuals (James et al 1965, Steffy et al 1970, Mlott & Mlott 1975, Rosenbaum & Argon 1979, Shipley 1981, Ockene et al 1982, Seeman & Seeman 1983. Lefcourt (1976) reports on Platt's research which identified greater success at influencing the smoking behaviour of internal individuals than that of external individuals, when utilizing role-play techniques in which subjects acted out the roles of doctor and patient in which a diagnosis of cancer was given to the 'patient'.…”

“…The results do not support the findings of previous research (James et al 1985, Williams 1973, Clarke et al 1982, Penny & Robinson 1986, Desmond et al 1987 who all discovered that smokers have a more external locus of control than non-smokers. Furthermore, some studies, for example Mlott & Mlott (1975), Rosenbaum & Argon (1979), Shipley (1981), Ockene et al (1982) and Seeman & Seeman (1983) have suggested that 'internals' are more likely to achieve and maintain abstinence than 'externals', thereby suggesting that ex-smokers are likely to demonstrate a lower external score than current smokers. This again was not supported, with the ex-smokers group proving to have the highest mean external score, although there was very little difference between the mean scores for all three groups, which proved statistically insignificant.…”