Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated an association between a high score on measures of "external" locus of control of health and high levels of psychosocial distress. In the present study, a measure of illness behaviour (visits to the doctor) has been added to elucidate the association between locus of control and self-reported psychological distress.
In a sample of female high and low attenders at two general practices, neither physical health nor psycho-social problems were found to be associated with high scores on the measure of external locus of control. However, high attenders were more likely to score high on this measure.
When a logistic model was fitted to the data an interactive variable (attendance rate x psychological symptoms) was found to have a significant effect, suggesting that psychological distress has a different effect upon the beliefs expressed by high and low attenders.
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