Health locus of control and perceived risk for breast cancer in healthy women.

Although early detection is closely linked to survival of breast cancer, many women do not adhere to recommended screening guidelines. One of the most studied factors that contribute to women's screening behavior is their perceived risk of developing breast cancer. In this study, the authors examined contributions of general health locus of control and breast cancer-specific control to understanding perceived risk. Sixty-six healthy women with and without family histories of breast cancer participated in the study. The following were the central findings: (1) internal locus of control and breast cancer-specific control predicted perceived risk, as measured by the certainty of remaining free of breast cancer, and (2) breast cancer-specific control mediated the relationship between internal locus of control and perceived risk. Findings suggest that significant relations between health locus of control and perceived risk variables may be overlooked in the absence of situation-specific measures.