The Relative Effects of Perceived Personal Control and Responsibility on Health and Health-Related Behaviors in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

Abstract

We examined whether perceptions of personal control over health and perceptions of personal responsibility for well-being were related, whether they had independent or interactive effects on health and health-related behaviors, and whether the effects of the perceptions varied by income. Young and middle-aged employees of a technology company (N = 186; aged 20-63) completed a questionnaire about perceived control and responsibility, health, health-related behaviors, and demographic information. Correlation analysis indicated that the perceived control and perceived responsibility variables were unrelated. Regression analysis indicated that a main effect of perceived control—but not responsibility—contributed significantly to the explanation of variance in health and several health-related behaviors (medical checkup, breast self-examination, exercise, and health promotion program membership). Perceived control and responsibility did not interact in their influences over health and behavior; however, the hypothesis that the variables would interact with income was partially confirmed. Overall, the results suggest that the sense of control rather than sense of responsibility should be targeted for health promotion efforts.