<p>Denna studie undersökte relationen mellan karaktärsdragen i The Big Five och Health Locus of Control (HLC). Testen NEO-FFI och MHLC användes för att mäta karaktärsdragen och dimensionerna i HLC. 130 studenter vid Växjö universitet deltog i studien. Resultatet visade en relation mellan Conscientiousness och dimensionen Intern HLC. Extraversion hade en något svagare relation till IHLC. Studenter med en högre grad av Conscientiousness eller Extraversion hade generellt en högre grad av IHLC. Neuroticism hade en relation till dimensionen Powerful others (PHLC). Studenterna med en högre grad Neuroticism hade också i allmänhet en högre grad av PHLC. De funna relationerna kan tyda på att karaktärsdragen tillsammans med HLC möjligen kan påverka faktorer som inverkar på hälsan.</p>

Abstract The goals in diabetes care are good metabolic control, minimisation of complications due to diabetes and a good quality of life. In order to achieve these goals, it is important that persons with diabetes adhere to self-care. Internationally, there are numerous studies available about adherence to self-care among adults with diabetes, but in Finland there are hardly any, especially in nursing science. The purpose of this study was to examine adherence to self-care and also how metabolic control, social support and health locus of control beliefs are related to patient adherence. The data were gathered by questionnaires from 213 working-aged adults with insulin-treated diabetes from the Oulu Health Center or the Central Hospital of Lapland. The response rate was 76%. In order to verify the reliability and the validity of the instruments, we used correlation coefficients, factor analysis and item-total analysis. Internal consistency was checked by Cronbach's alfa. Cross-tabulations with the chi-square test of independence, correlations, One- and Two-Way ANOVA and covariate analysis were used for data analysis. Our multivariate statistical methods consisted of logistic and multiple linear regression analysis and cluster analysis. The subjects who were adherent to self-care had better metabolic control than those who neglected self-care. A fifth of the respondents were neglecting their self-care. The others undertook flexible, regimen-adherent or self-planned self-care. Poor metabolic control, smoking and living alone explained neglect of self-care. If the diabetic got support from her/his family and friends, living alone was not a predictor of neglect of self-care. Those who were adherent to self-care perceived themselves as getting more support from their family and friends than the group who neglected self-care. Those who had poor metabolic control perceived themselves as getting peer support from other persons with diabetes. Those who were adherent to self-care were responsible internals who believed both in their own action and in health care team action. Those who mainly believed in health care team action (powerful other externals) were more adherent to self-care than those with an internal or chance external health locus of control. We got evidence about the importance of adherence to self-care, and its relationship with metabolic control, social support anf HLOC beliefs. The results can be used when developing the individual patient education of persons with diabetes.

Notre travail de thèse s'intéresse à la consommation de produits biologiques, et plus particulièrement, à I'identification des variables déterminantes à I'intention d'achat. Si de nombreuses études se sont penchées sur ce sujet, il reste néanmoins des zones d'ombre que I'on se donne comme objectif d'éclaircir. Tout d'abord, il apparait qu'il existe des différences notables en terme de motivation d'achat des produits biologiques selon le degré de maturité du marché. Ensuite, le cadre rationnel de la théorie du comportement planifié, souvent utilisé dans les recherches précédentes, a maintes fois été critiqué. En effet, I'absence de prise en compte des émotions ainsi que du désir réduisent son pouvoir prédictif. Nous choisissons donc comme cadre théorique de notre étude le modèle d'implémentation des buts de Bagozzi et Perugini, que nous étudions dans le cadre de la consommation de produits biologiques au Liban, marché en voie de développement. Les résultats obtenus confirment une distinction de motivations d'achat entre marchés développés et marchés en voie de développement. Par ailleurs, les résultats démontrent le rôle du désir et des émotions dans la consommation de produits biologiques. D'autres variables spécifiques au contexte d'études sont identifiées et leur rôle avéré: le health Locus of Control et I'authenticité perçue des produits. / Our thesis focuses on the consumption of organic products, and more particularly, in the dentification of the variables that influence purchase intention. lf numerous studies dealt with this subject, there are nevertheless shadow zones which we give as objective to clear up. First of all, it seems that there are notable differences in term of motivation of purchase of organic products according to the degree of maturity of the market. Then, the rational frame of the theory of planned behavior, often used in previous researches, was criticized many a time. lndeed, the absence of consideration of variables such as emotions and desire reduces its predictive power. We thus choose as theoretical framework of our study the model of goal directed model (Bagozzi and Perugini, 2001, 2004) to study organic products purchase intention in Lebanon, a developing market. The obtained results confirm a distinction of motivations of purchase between developed and developing markets. Besides, the results prove the role of desire and emotions in the purchase intention of organic products. Other variables specific to our context of studies are identified and their role proven: the health Locus of Control and the perceived authenticity of organic products.

No description available.

Exclusive breastfeeding and holistic maternity care are strategic to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Nigeria. This thesis aimed at informing policies and interventions to promote breastfeeding and to improve Nigerian mother’s experiences in antenatal and intrapartum care. The study in this research focused upon psychological dynamics underlying societal culture around maternity and breastfeeding. Using quantitative method, attitudes toward breastfeeding and health orientation were surveyed in 400 Nigerian men and women using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLoC). There were more positive attitudes toward breastfeeding in males, participants in the 20-29-year-old age category, and in those who identified as single. Higher internal HLoC was associated with more positive attitudes to breastfeeding and higher EHLoC scores were associated with more negative attitudes to formula feeding. The second study explored the experience of pregnancy and childbirth in Nigerian women. Qualitative interviews with 12 women implied that Nigerian women perceive pregnancy and childbirth as a multidimensional experience comprising physiological and psychological elements and also as risky. Control mechanisms that reflected internal HLoC included choosing multiple antenatal care sources to obtain holistic care, adopting new technology in bridging perceived communication gaps with health care providers and adopting physical and mental strategies in controlling the somatic and sensory changes that accompany pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth were viewed through an external HLoC lens as spiritual, and reflected in an entrenched belief in the intervention of deity to mitigate pain and risk associated with childbirth. These results have implications for practice, intervention and policy to promote breastfeeding at the societal level and improve maternity services for the current and next child-bearing generation.

The relationship between an individual's level of spirituality, health locus of control, and participating in wellness activity was investigated. The relationship between spirituality, health locus of control on physical health was also investigated. The research question was based on prior studies that reported people who are more spiritual are healthier. Does their spirituality lead to increased levels of health, or are individual's who are more spiritual more likely to proactively take control of their health and engage in health promoting behaviors? One hundred and fifteen male and female employees completed The Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS), a spirituality measure, The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, a measure of locus of control related to health and healthcare, and The Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Health Risk Appraisal, a self-report measure of participation in health behaviors. Physical measures of health were obtained by obtaining Body Mass Index, blood pressure readings, and a cholesterol screening. The current study looked at level of spirituality (internal, external), level of health locus of control (internal, powerful other, chance) and participation in wellness/health promoting behaviors and health. Correlational analyses were performed on the relationship between spirituality and health locus of control. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed on the internal spirituality and internal health locus of control to examine the relationship between spirituality, health locus of control and positive health behaviors and level of physical health. Stepwise discriminant function analysis using spirituality and health locus of control as predictor variables for the health-behavior criterion variables were performed. Discussion of the results, limitations of the current study and recommendations for future research were presented.

Many college students are in a developmental period in which they are transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. This time period can be challenging for all college students and especially for students with a chronic condition. The current study investigated the association between various health-related factors (health locus of control [HLOC], health literacy, health self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]) and health behaviors in college students, as well as the moderating effect of having a chronic condition on those associations. These health behaviors were further operationalized as healthy lifestyle behaviors (preventative and wellness behaviors, dietary behaviors, physical activity) and risky behaviors (substance use and risky sexual behaviors). A total of 393 undergraduate students (66.1% female, 24.8% White, 26% chronic condition) completed electronic questionnaire packets. Findings suggested HLOC, health literacy, and HRQOL were significant predictors of engagement in healthy lifestyle and risky behaviors. Chronic condition status moderated a number of associations between HLOC, health literacy, health self-efficacy and both healthy lifestyle behaviors and risky behaviors. Based on these findings, researchers and practitioners should focus on improving and managing these health-related factors, especially among college students with chronic conditions, in order to help students achieve better health outcomes.

Chronic back pain is costly and potentially disabling, with low response to medical procedures. Poor physical and mental health demonstrate correlation with chronic back pain. The current study investigated the value of using health-related locus of control and pain-related self-efficacy to predict physical and mental health outcomes following multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain. Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales and the Chronic Pain Self Efficacy scale were administered to 28 males and 33 females ages 28 to 72 completing chronic back pain rehabilitation. Locus of control, self-efficacy, and physical and mental health demonstrated treatment-related changes, with notable improvements in physical and mental health. Regression analyses examined the value of pre-treatment health locus of control and pain-related self-efficacy as predictors of physical and mental health one month following treatment. Higher internal and lower doctor health locus of control, and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted higher lift scores one month after treatment. Higher baseline self-efficacy also predicted better physical functioning and lower disability at one month. Pain-related self-efficacy and health locus of control may be valuable predictors of treatment benefit for chronic back pain patients. Limitations included low sample size.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Health Locus of Control, Exercise habits, Food habits and Self-esteem (Personal self and Physical self) between two groups of student teachers at a university in the south of Sweden. Is health such as exercise, eating and self-esteem something that is controlled by internal or external factors? Student teachers that participated in Physical and Health programme and student teachers that participeted in other programme were investigeted. The participants (N = 160) answered the questionnaire. The Health Locus of Control scale and Tennessee Self-Concept Scale were used. A form was constructed to measure the students exercise habits and food habits. The study showed differences between the two groups of student teachers concerning Internal HLoC and Exercise habits. A positive tendency concerning Phycial self was also found. The results showed that there were positive correlations between the variables Health Locus of Control, Exercise habits, Food habits, Personal self and Physical self. Negative correlations were also found, between the variables Health Locus of Control and Physicals self. The study showed that the programme a student was participating in, only could explain a students Exercise habits. The result also showed that a students Food habits only could be explained by how the student think of their body and their appearance.

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the personality variables Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), Negativ affect and Social inhibition (the D-personality), and health behavior and attitudes toward keep-fit measures. Methods. The participants in this study were 170 embloyees at a regional social insurance office in a midsize town in the south of Sweden. Scales concerning health behavior and attitudes toward keep-fit measures were constructed and the participants completed these scales as well as those of MHLC and D-personality. Results. Participants with strong beliefs that other people, such as doctors or family-members, are responsible for their health, showed a more positive attitude as to keep-fit measures than those with a belief that health is controlled by themselves. The D-personality was significantly related to negative health behaviors. Conclusions. This study suggest that different personality-types show different health behavior and attitudes toward keep-fit meausures and therefore are in need of different kinds of support in order to promote a good health. This is especially relevant for persons with a high level of negativ affect and social inhibition.