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Using Alternate Forms of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale: Caveat Emptor

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Abstract

This study examined whether Forms A and B ofthe Multidimensional Health Locus of ControlScale (MHLCS) are parallel by comparing (a)mean performance on the internal, powerfulothers, and chance subscales, (b) the internalconsistency and one-week test-retestreliability estimates for each of thesubscales, (c) the intercorrelations among thesubscales, (d) the relationship betweenself-rated health status and each of thesubscales, and (e) the fit of the three-factorstructure for the MHLCS proposed by Wallston etal. (1978) using confirmatory factor analysis(CFA). A non-clinical sample (N = 245) wasused. Overall, the results of the study do notsupport treating Forms A and B of the MHLCS asparallel or exchangeable forms. Directions forfurther revisions to the MHLCS are proposedbased on both the present study as well asfindings from the literature.

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  1. Dept. of ECPS, The University of British Columbia, 2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C, Canada, V6T 1Z4 Tel

    Anita M. Hubley

  2. University of Northern British Columbia, Canada

    Shannon Wagner

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  1. Anita M. Hubley
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Hubley, A.M., Wagner, S. Using Alternate Forms of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale: Caveat Emptor. Social Indicators Research 65, 167–186 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025809921592

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