Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Health Locus of Control Scale

Abstract

Based on social learning theory, the construct of health locus of control has proven valuable in predicting a wide variety of health-related behaviors. In studying this concept among Brazilians, the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale translated into Brazilian Portuguese were investigated in a sample of 280 middle-class persons. Three types of health locus of control were verified, internal, powerful others, and chance. Further refinement of subscales is needed to improve internal consistency reliabilities.

Psychometric properties of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control - A and General Self-Efficacy Scale in civil servants: ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal Study (ELSA-Brasil MSK)

“…In accordance to the original structure of MHLC-A, the authors found three factors with eigenvalues greater that 1.00 that accounted for 25% of the total variance 39 . Additionally, a series of principal component analyses (PCA) performed by Dela Coleta 37 and reported in two unpublished studies seem to support the three-factor structure of MHLC-A; however, the lack of detailed information on these analyses preclude any formal conclusions (these have been briefly described in a book chapter 37 , p. 226-227).…”

“…Prior evidence on structural validity of MHLC-A in Brazil came from the study by Paine et al 39 , who performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 280 civil servants, university students and wives of military personal. In accordance to the original structure of MHLC-A, the authors found three factors with eigenvalues greater that 1.00 that accounted for 25% of the total variance 39 .…”

Escala de Locus de controle da dor: adaptação e confiabilidade para idosos

“…The comparison of the observed results with the one of other studies was limited due to the different forms of reliability analysis suggested by the literature. Most of them evaluated the reliability of the scale using only an internal consistency of the A or B forms of the MHLC scale 16,21 . Wallston, Stein and Smith 20 used the C form of the scale, as in this study for analysis of test-retest reliability in a population of young well-educated, with various types of chronic nonmalignant pain.…”

“…They also show less psychological alterations, greater social integration, more adherence to orientation treatments and better health conditions 22,23 . Although the LC is identified as relevant and widely studied 19,21 in Brazil, in the literature review carried out for the present study, few studies that use the construct of health and pain LC 16,17 were found. No published study, methodologically standardized, of translation and cross-cultural adaptation and about the reliability analysis about the C form scale for the assessment of pain LC in the Brazilian elderly was found.…”

“…Based in this theory, Wallston, Wallston and De Vellis 15 formulated the Multidimensional Heath Locus of Control (MHCL) scale (A and B forms), developed to evaluate LC of general states of health. These forms have been translated and adapted for Brazil and its psychometric properties have already been tested in the Brazilian population 16,17 . The A and B forms are more appropriate to observe the perception of LC of general states of health, limiting their observation to specific health conditions, such as cancer and pain [18][19][20] .…”