Expectancies about Control Over Health: Relationship to Desire for Control of Health Care

Data from four studies of adults are used to address the relationship between expectancies for control of one's health (an outcome) and preference for control of health care (a process). The former is operationalized by the use of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales; the latter by the B and I subscales of the Krantz Health Opinion Survey (KHOS). Descriptive data from the four studies are presented. Significant correlations exist between the B subscale and the PHLC and IHLC scales. Factor analysis of datafrom three of the studies reveals that, along with selected items from other scales, all of the items from both the PHLC scale and the B subscale load on the first factor. Both theoretical and methodological reasons for these findings are discussed.