The relationship of health-promoting behaviour to health locus of control: analysis of one baccalaureate nursing class.

This study established a health-promoting lifestyle profile in one first year baccalaureate nursing class using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) scale (Walker, Sechrist, & Pender, 1987). Students also completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Pearson correlation coefficients were run to determine the relationship between perceived health locus of control and each of the categories in the HPLP scale. The only significant, albeit low, correlations were between: stress management and internal health locus of control (r = .39, p = .01); and, interpersonal support and powerful others locus of control (r = .33, p = .03). Although low statistical power (n = 34) may have contributed to these findings, the value of health locus of control as an antecedent to health promoting behaviour is questioned. The students in the current study did engage in health-promoting behaviours as measured by the HPLP scale, with behaviours in the categories self-actualization and interpersonal support receiving the highest scores. As a group, the students displayed a high perceived internal locus of control. There was virtually no relationship between perceived health locus of control and the health-promoting lifestyle profile categories. However, the significant relationship between internal locus of control and the dimension, stress management, and the powerful others locus of control and the dimension, interpersonal support, may indicate that people with a differing locus of control have different coping strategies.