The relationship between locus of control and depression: A cross-sectional survey with university students in Botswana

Background: Research has consistently revealed a positive association between external locus of control and depression. Little, if any, research has investigated locus of control and depression in the sociocultural context of Botswana.Aim: To explore the relationship between locus of control and depression among undergraduate students in Botswana and to determine the impact of age and gender on this relationship. Setting: University of Botswana. Methods: A sample of 272 students was surveyed through a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Levenson's multidimensional locus of control scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II and demographic questions. Data analysis utilised descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, independent samples t-tests and standard multiple regression analysis. Results: Of the 272 participants, 47.3% scored low (minimal) levels of depression, 23.4% scored mild levels, 18.0% scored moderate levels and 11.3% scored severe levels of depression. Students who believed that they were in control of events in their lives were less likely to present with depressive symptoms (r = -0.29, p = 0.000), while students who believed that chance (r = 0.45,p = 0.000) or powerful others (r = 0.40, p = 0.000) controlled their lives were more likely to have high depression scores. Both internal and external locus of control, together with age, explained 31% of the variance in depression scores; gender made no significant contribution to levels of depression.Conclusion: The study results draw attention to locus of control as one of the cognitive variables associated with depression. Further research is needed to determine how locus of control can be addressed in the treatment and prevention of depression in university context

Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control of Adult Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Treatment

Background: This article investigates emotional intelligence and locus of control in an adult breast cancer population receiving treatment. Gaining insight into these constructs will contribute to improving breast cancer patients' psychological well-being and to reducing physical vulnerability to disease before and during treatment.Method: The researcher used an exploratory; descriptive and correlational approach. Nonprobability purposive sampling was employed. Sixty-seven breast cancer patients receiving treatment participated in the research. A biographical questionnaire; the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale; and the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale were used to measure the constructs explored in this article. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.Results: The sample yielded above-average levels of emotional intelligence and an internal locus of control. The results indicate a statistically and practically significant negative correlation between emotional intelligence and locus of control. The significant association found between higher and lower emotional intelligence groups and internal and external locus of control groups also confirmed these results.Conclusion: Having an understanding of the psychosocial variables that impact on individuals diagnosed with a chronic illness; in this case breast cancer; can assist interventionists working in the field of positive psychology. While the stressors and challenges that breast cancer patients face are well documented; this article highlights the strength factors emotional intelligence and locus of control as important mediators in the treatment and management of breast cancer

Predicting HIV Risk Using a Locus of Control-Based Model among University Students

Objective:The purpose of the study was to predict HIV risk using a locus of control-based intervention. The locus of control-based variables that were used in this study were social systems control; self-control; fatalism and achievement-oriented behaviour. The study sample was made up of 257 university students whose ages ranged from 17-20 years. All the students were black. Method: The study assessed participants' perceived health control perceptions using Rotter's locus of control scale; social systems control scale; self-control scale; fatalism scale; the intellectual responsibility questionnaire and HIV risk assessment questionnaire. The study performed correlational and linear regression analyses using statistical software SAS to establish the relationship between locus of control-based factors and HIV risk. Results: The results showed significant correlations between locus of control-based variables and HIV risk. The locus of control-based model significantly predicted variance in HIV risk. Conclusion: Directions for future research on the relationship between locus of control-based interventions and HIV risk could focus on the development of locus of control-based HIV risk reduction interventions in South African universities