Prediction of Health Promoting Behaviors Through the Health Locus of Control in a Sample of Adolescents in Iran

Abstract

Background: Health promoting behaviors are amongst the best methods through which people can maintain and control their health. Objectives: The aim of this study was the prediction of health promoting behaviors through the health locus of control in a sample of adolescents in Bandar Abbas, in the south of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the Wallston questionnaire and adolescent health promoting scale were used for data collection. From the 378 distributed questionnaires among the students, 342 questionnaires were completed and returned (response rate = 90.5%). Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data by the SPSS 19 software.

Relationship between loci of control and health-promoting behaviors in Pakistani women with polycystic ovary syndrome: coping strategies as mediators

“…It was observed that both internal and powerful others HLOC positively predicted aspects of health-promoting behaviors. This finding was in line with those of studies conducted in Asian countries, Iran [ 24 ] and Turkey [ 25 ]. In general, the belief that one is in charge of one’s own life facilitates engagement in self-benefitting acts.…”

“…Furthermore, chance HLOC negatively predicted health-promoting behaviors through less active practical and more distractive coping strategies. Earlier studies have also demonstrated the negative role of chance HLOC in taking practical initiatives to improve one’s life [ 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 ]. People who believe that their situation is determined by random events are less likely to take active measures to change their lives.…”

“…Similarly, in a longitudinal study in Australia, internal HLOC was found to play an important role in physical and mental health [ 23 ]. In other cross-sectional studies conducted in Iran [ 24 ], and Turkey [ 25 ], it was observed that powerful others HLOC and internal HLOC positively predicted health-related behaviors, whereas chance HLOC negatively predicted behaviors that promote health.…”

Locus of control, knowledge, attitude and practice for contraception among adolescents

“…The subsequent use of BCM, in addition to being influenced by other people, is due to the belief of chance as the main source of life control. Adolescents who used condoms in their first sexual intercourse showed greater internalization, evidencing a greater capacity for sexual negotiation with partners (9,22) . In another study, internal adolescents and with greater External locus of control (Powerful Others) had healthier dimensions of positive behaviors, which shows that health behavior is not correlated with beliefs in health being a matter of chance (23) .…”