Health locus of control : cardiovascular disease and cancer health risk behaviors of elementary school children

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether differences existed among elementary school children exhibiting internal and external locus of control and their reported health risk behaviors of cardiovascular disease and cancer. In addition, the study attempted to show the relationship between the variables of age, sex, race, or health locus of control and reported health risk behaviors of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Locus of control was determined by the administration of The Children's Health Locus of Control Scale. Reported health risk behaviors were determined from the Health Risk Behavior Questionnaire for Elementary School Children. Three hundred and twenty-eight fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in Blount County, Tennessee, participated in the study. Alcoa Elementary, Alcoa Middle, Fairview Elementary, and Binfield Elementary Schools were chosen. During early in 1984 the testing was administered in each of the randomly selected classrooms. The chi square (Χ²) test was used to indicate statistical significance between health locus of control and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease and cancer. To measure the strength of the association between the variables, Cramer's V was calculated.

Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. Significant relationships between health locus of control and health risk behaviors for cardiovascular disease and cancer were reported by elementary school children.

2. Reports of health risk behaviors for cardiovascular disease and cancer were higher for subjects with external health locus of control.

3. Health locus of control was not affected by age or race. Males were more external in their health locus of control than females.

4. Among elementary school children, males reported more health risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and cancer than females.

5. There were no relationships between race and the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer for elementary school children.