TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship of health locus of control with specific health behaviours and global health appraisal : a meta-analysis and effects of moderators
AU - Cheng, Cecilia
AU - Cheung, Mike W.L.
AU - Lo, Barbara C.Y.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Health locus of control (HLOC) refers to beliefs regarding how one’s health is influenced by oneself, others, or fate. This meta-analysis investigated whether three HLOC dimensions (internality/I-HLOC, powerful others/P-HLOC, chance/C-HLOC) were related to both specific health behaviours and global health appraisal, and whether these relationships were moderated by gender and age compositions, individualism, and power distance. Three-level mixed-effects meta-analysis was performed on studies examining the associations of HLOC with specific health behaviour (k = 76, N = 76,580, 57% women, Mage = 43.75) and global health appraisal (k = 95, N = 12,068, 57% women, Mage = 45.44), respectively. For specific health behaviour, the averaged correlations with the HLOC dimensions were generally weak (r’s = −.07 to.10). However, the links between P-HLOC and exercise were moderated by all four demographic moderators, and gender composition and individualism moderated the association between the HLOC dimensions and diet. For global health appraisal, all of the averaged correlations were statistically significant (r’s = −.16 to.21), except that between P-HLOC and mental quality of life. The results further showed individualism and power distance to moderate the links between the HLOC dimensions and both mental and physical quality of life, and gender composition to moderate those between these dimensions and two indicators of emotional problems (depression and anxiety).
AB - Health locus of control (HLOC) refers to beliefs regarding how one’s health is influenced by oneself, others, or fate. This meta-analysis investigated whether three HLOC dimensions (internality/I-HLOC, powerful others/P-HLOC, chance/C-HLOC) were related to both specific health behaviours and global health appraisal, and whether these relationships were moderated by gender and age compositions, individualism, and power distance. Three-level mixed-effects meta-analysis was performed on studies examining the associations of HLOC with specific health behaviour (k = 76, N = 76,580, 57% women, Mage = 43.75) and global health appraisal (k = 95, N = 12,068, 57% women, Mage = 45.44), respectively. For specific health behaviour, the averaged correlations with the HLOC dimensions were generally weak (r’s = −.07 to.10). However, the links between P-HLOC and exercise were moderated by all four demographic moderators, and gender composition and individualism moderated the association between the HLOC dimensions and diet. For global health appraisal, all of the averaged correlations were statistically significant (r’s = −.16 to.21), except that between P-HLOC and mental quality of life. The results further showed individualism and power distance to moderate the links between the HLOC dimensions and both mental and physical quality of life, and gender composition to moderate those between these dimensions and two indicators of emotional problems (depression and anxiety).
KW - Health
KW - health appraisal
KW - health behaviour
KW - locus of control
KW - perceived control
KW - quality of life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981744919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/7529
U2 - 10.1080/17437199.2016.1219672
DO - 10.1080/17437199.2016.1219672
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
C2 - 27556686
VL - 10
SP - 460
EP - 477
JO - Health Psychology Review
JF - Health Psychology Review
SN - 1743-7199
IS - 4
ER -