Health, Locus of Control, Values, and the Behavior of Family and Friends: An Integrated Approach to Understanding Preventive Health Behavior

This study examines the mediating role of health locus of control beliefs in the relationship of relevant psychological variables to preventive health behavior. In specific, two hypothesis are tested: (1) that health locus of control mediates the relationship between positive health values and preventive health behavior and (2) that health locus of control mediates the negative effects of the social environment on preventive health behavior. It was found that it is the respondent who both values health and has an internal locus of control who is most likely to engage in preventive health behavior. Conversely, respondents with an external locus of control who are exposed to associates with poor health behavior patterns exhibit lower levels of preventive health behavior than internals or those exposed to positive health behavior. Finally, although the respondents' close assosiates are the strongest influence on their health lifestyle, the respondents are virtually unaware of this influence.