Does the Health Locus of Control play a key role in the health during adolescence?

Objectives: To examine the differences in health locus of control in a population of "healthy" young people aged 13 to 25 years and a population of young people suffering from mental disorders. Method: 814 "normal" young people completed Wallston's multidimensional health locus of control questionnaire and were compared with a population of 358 young people suffering from mental disorders. Results: The young people in the healthy group had a higher internal health locus of control score and a higher internal versus external ratio compared with those in the "suffering" group. On the other hand, the scores for the powerful others health locus of control scale and the chance health locus of control scale were higher in the "suffering" group. While age only influenced the locus of control in the "healthy" group, gender played a determining role in both groups in terms of the internal health locus of control. Conclusions: Adolescents who suffer from mental disorders have a lower internalization level in the multidimensional health locus of control which is expressed by a lower sense of personal responsibility and a higher level of dependency on others