In a recent study, De Brabander and Hellemans (1996) reported that stress (somatic complaints) was inversely related to scores on personality scales of “thrill-and-adventure sensation seeking” and “internal locus of control.” These observations, useful in their own right, are of further value when examined in the light of mathematical models of stress and decisional control. It is suggested that diminished stress associated with higher scores on these scales may result from increased engagement and reduced aversiveness of cognitive demands mediating reduction of threat under conditions of decisional control.
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