Moderator variables in life stress and illness relationship.

The relationship between life stress and physical illness was examined for the effects of potential moderator variables: The Sensation-Seeking Scale, health Locus of Control Scale, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The Sensation-Seeking Scale proved to be a moderator with high sensation seekers (highest quartile) showing no significant correlations between life change and illness, while low sensation seekers (lowest quartile) showed a significant correlation. The Health Locus of Control Scale failed to differentiate between correlation levels for Internals and Externals. The Myers-Briggs provided several moderator variables. Introverts, Thinking and Sensing types showed larger correlations than their Extrovert, Feeling and Intuitive counterparts. The magnitudes and significance levels of these correlations suggest that the Myers-Briggs may have further usefulness in exploring the relationship between life change and illness.