ABSTRACT
Seven scoring methods for the Life Events Survey (LES) were compared to determine which, if any, is superior for prediction of psychological symptomatology as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Every scoring method tested, except one utilizing an individual's positive ratings of events, was significantly correlated with symptomatology. The method using an individual's negative ratings of events was a significantly better predictor than any other. These findings suggest several conclusions. First, nomothetic methods for weighting life events do not increase a scale's predictive ability beyond that achieved by a frequency count of events. Second, frequency of life events predicts psychological symptomatology only insofar as life events are perceived as negative. That is, positively perceived events do not predict symptomatology. Finally, a life events scale's predictive ability is increased by utilizing the individual's negative perceptions of events.
Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/psychology , Life Change Events , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesSubject(s)
Anxiety/therapy , Behavior Therapy/methods , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Social Environment , Verbal BehaviorSubject(s)
Internal-External Control , Interpersonal Relations , Suggestion , Adolescent , Adult , Creativity , Female , Forecasting , Humans , ImaginationABSTRACT
Compared 50 undergraduates (7 males, 43 females) as the upper and lower third Internal and External locus of control groups, based on I-E scores, with respect to scores on separate subscales of trust in father (FT), mother (MT), and both parents (PT). While the results confirmed previous findings that internality was related positively to trust in others, the present study found significantly greater trust in father than in mother. These differential findings were interpreted as having relevance to studies of behavioral referents of locus of control as well as implications for parent-child antecedent relationships.
