Multidimensional Health Locus of Control: A New Perspective on the Psychopathology of Anxiety and Depression?

Abstract

The primary purpose of the study was to assess the validity of the reported relationship between an ‘externalised’ locus of control and the psychopathology of anxiety and depression. 36 clinical out-patients primarily presenting as anxious, depressed or both and 46 normal controls were tested on the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control together with self-rating scales of anxiety and depression. With regard to the clinical group in particular, the hypothesised relationships between the ‘Chance’ and ‘Powerful Others’ dimensions of locus of control and the psychopathology of depression and anxiety did not emerge. In contrast, although the normal group showed no correlation of locus of control scores with depression, a positive and significant correlation was displayed with anxiety as measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Implications for current theoretical formulations for psychopathology, scale specificity, and the need to delineate client populations carefully were discussed.