Sleep Locus of Control: Report on a New Scale

Abstract

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.

The Relationship Between Beliefs About Sleep and Adherence to Behavioral Treatment Combined With Meditation for Insomnia

“…Notably, scores on a measure of sleep-related locus of control (i.e. beliefs about ability to personally affect sleep and insomnia), perceptions of decreased control are associated with poorer treatment outcome (Vincent, Sande, Read, & Giannuzzi, 2004; Vincent, Walsh, & Lewycky, 2010). However, it is important to consider the role of the therapeutic alliance with respect to reactance, as previous work has suggested that a positive patient-provider is associated with better adherence to treatment (Cvengros, Christensen, Cunningham, Hillis, & Kaboli, 2009).…”

Gender and cognitive–emotional factors as predictors of pre-sleep arousal and trait hyperarousal in insomnia

“…The Sleep Locus of Control (SLOC) is an 8-item scale developed by Vincent et al (29) that measures two dimensions of sleep locus of control: internal and chance. Participants indicated on a Likert scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly Agree) the amount to which they agreed or disagreed with each item.…”

“…One possibility is that locus of control might be related to arousal. Among people with insomnia, an internal locus of control was associated with higher levels of sleep-related anticipatory anxiety (29), suggesting that pressure to control one’s sleep may be related to hyperarousal. Thus, further exploration into the relationship between sleep locus of control and arousal seems warranted.…”

No Need to Count Sheep: Investigating an Online Insomnia Intervention among Older Adults

“…The 8-item Sleep Locus of Control Scale (SLOC; Vincent et al, 2004) measures sleep locus of control, or the degree to which one attributes his or her sleep to internal causes (e.g., "If I take care of myself, I can avoid insomnia") or chance (e.g., "Good sleep is largely a matter of luck"). The internal locus of control is associated with greater anxiety regarding sleep, while the chance locus of control is related to greater perfectionism, anxiety, and depression.…”

“…After reverse scoring items 3, 4, and 6, all items are summed to obtain the final score, which can range from 8 to 48 with higher scores indicating a greater internal locus and lower scores indicating a greater chance locus. Previous research has demonstrated that this assessment has acceptable reliability and convergent and discriminant validity (Vincent et al, 2004). The 16-item Quality of Life Scale (QOLS; Flanagan, 1978) was developed from the 15-item Flanagan Quality of Life survey.…”