Keywords

Locus of Control, Self-Efficacy, Stress, Utilization of Health Services

Abstract

Stress has been linked to increased illness in several biologically based studies. In contrast, only a limited number of studies have assessed psychological variables related to stress, with self-efficacy and locus of control serving as potentially important variables. Thus, the current study investigated the mediating effects of self-efficacy and locus of control in the relationship between stress, psychological and physical symptoms, and the utilization of health services in college students. Results suggested that stress was correlated positively with symptoms. External locus of control was correlated positively with stress and symptoms, and self-efficacy was correlated negatively with stress and symptoms. Further, structural equation modeling was used to test two separate models. The first model examined the relationships between stress and symptoms and between symptoms and utilization of health services. Although the path coefficients suggested that there were direct relationships, the data did not adequately fit this model. The second model examined the potential mediational effects of locus of control and self-efficacy on the relationship between stress and symptoms. The path coefficients for the second model were consistent with a mediation effect for locus of control in the relationship between stress and symptoms; however, when this model was tested for full mediation, the data did not fit the model. These results highlight the importance of having future studies examine and identify potential mediators of the stress and illness link. Implications for reducing health care costs and promoting better mental and physical health are discussed.

Notes

If this is your thesis or dissertation, and want to learn how to access it or for more information about readership statistics, contact us at STARS@ucf.edu

Graduation Date

2007

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Renk, Kimberly

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0001831

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0001831

Language

English

Release Date

August 2007

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS