More dimensions for the multidimensional health locus of control: confirmatory factor analysis of competing models of the structure of control beliefs

Abstract

The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale was a significant contribution to the development of the locus of control construct in establishing the importance of multiple sources of control. This article suggests that further development of the construct should include two distinct aspects of control beliefs: strategy and capacity beliefs. A confirmatory factor analysis that tested six competing models supported the use of multidimensional measurements of control. Correlations with existing measures of health-related control constructs, including the MHLC, supported the validity of the strategy and capacity dimensions.