Psychologicd Reports, 1975,37, 589-590. @ Psychological Reports 1975
LIFE-STRESS, LOCUS OF CONTROL, AND TREATMENT-SEEKING STEPHEN B. MANUCK University of Virginia JAMES J. HIFJRICHSEN AND ELIZABETH 0. ROSS Vanderbilt University Summary.-In a study of the relationship between life-stress, Locus of Control and illness-related treatment-seeking behavior, 129 undergraduates were divided into Internals and Externals by Rotter's Locus of Control questionnaire and into groups of high and low life-stress Ss by Jacobs' Life Change Inventory (Category A). 98 Ss were available for follow-up after a 6-mo. period of risk. I t was found that highly stressed Ss were more likely to seek treatment for physical complaints during risk than were low-stressed Ss. Low-stressed Externals were more likely to seek treatment than low-stressed Internals, but there was no significant difference between Internals and Externals under high-stress condi tions. Current research indicates that both degree of anxiety and frequency of illness episodes are greater for college smdents experiencing high levels of life-stress involving disappointments, failures, and identity or role crises (as assessed by a life-events inventory) than for low-stressed smdents (e.g., Jacobs, Spilken, & Norman, 1969; Spilken & Jacobs, 1971). Moreover, Manuck, Hinrichsem, and Ross (1975) have reported that the relationship between life-stress and anxiety may be mediated by Rotter's Locus of Control dimension. Thus, Externals under low life-stress reported significantly more state anxieq than lowstressed Internals, although no differences in anxiety were found between Internals and Externals under high life-stress conditions. The present investigation represents a 6-mo. follow-up of illness-related treatment-seeking behavior for Ss described in Manudt, et al. (1975). Following the results obtained on the anxiety measures, it was predicted that Ss sustaining high levels of life-stress for the preceding year would be more likely to seek medical treatment during a 6-mo. period of risk than would low-stressed Ss. In addition, it was expected that low-stressed Externals would be more likely to seek treatment during risk than would like-stressed Internals, but that no difference would be found between Internals and Externals under conditions of high life-stress. Of 129 undergraduates who were administered the Life Change Inventory (Category A) (Jacobs, et al., 1969). Rotter's Locus of Control Questionnaire ( 1966) and the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gonuch, & Lushene. 1970) at the beginning of the school year, 98 Ss were available for a telephone health interview 6 mo. later. The primary d a m n of interest was whether S had consulted a physician for symptomatic treatmenc ac any time during the previous 6 mo.' The percentages of Internals and Externals seeking treatmenc under low and high Life-stress are presented in Fig. 1. As predicted, a greater proportion of high-stress chan low-stress Ss sought treatment during risk (2 = 2.62,P .01;Bruning & Kintz, 1968). While there was no significant difference in treatmentseeking behavior between Internals and Externals under high stress-conditions, a greater proportion of low-stressed Externals sought treatment than low-stressed Internals (z = 1.88, p .05).
LIFE-STRESS, LOCUS OF CONTROL, AND TREATMENT-SEEKING STEPHEN B. MANUCK University of Virginia JAMES J. HIFJRICHSEN AND ELIZABETH 0. ROSS Vanderbilt University Summary.-In a study of the relationship between life-stress, Locus of Control and illness-related treatment-seeking behavior, 129 undergraduates were divided into Internals and Externals by Rotter's Locus of Control questionnaire and into groups of high and low life-stress Ss by Jacobs' Life Change Inventory (Category A). 98 Ss were available for follow-up after a 6-mo. period of risk. I t was found that highly stressed Ss were more likely to seek treatment for physical complaints during risk than were low-stressed Ss. Low-stressed Externals were more likely to seek treatment than low-stressed Internals, but there was no significant difference between Internals and Externals under high-stress condi tions. Current research indicates that both degree of anxiety and frequency of illness episodes are greater for college smdents experiencing high levels of life-stress involving disappointments, failures, and identity or role crises (as assessed by a life-events inventory) than for low-stressed smdents (e.g., Jacobs, Spilken, & Norman, 1969; Spilken & Jacobs, 1971). Moreover, Manuck, Hinrichsem, and Ross (1975) have reported that the relationship between life-stress and anxiety may be mediated by Rotter's Locus of Control dimension. Thus, Externals under low life-stress reported significantly more state anxieq than lowstressed Internals, although no differences in anxiety were found between Internals and Externals under high life-stress conditions. The present investigation represents a 6-mo. follow-up of illness-related treatment-seeking behavior for Ss described in Manudt, et al. (1975). Following the results obtained on the anxiety measures, it was predicted that Ss sustaining high levels of life-stress for the preceding year would be more likely to seek medical treatment during a 6-mo. period of risk than would low-stressed Ss. In addition, it was expected that low-stressed Externals would be more likely to seek treatment during risk than would like-stressed Internals, but that no difference would be found between Internals and Externals under conditions of high life-stress. Of 129 undergraduates who were administered the Life Change Inventory (Category A) (Jacobs, et al., 1969). Rotter's Locus of Control Questionnaire ( 1966) and the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gonuch, & Lushene. 1970) at the beginning of the school year, 98 Ss were available for a telephone health interview 6 mo. later. The primary d a m n of interest was whether S had consulted a physician for symptomatic treatmenc ac any time during the previous 6 mo.' The percentages of Internals and Externals seeking treatmenc under low and high Life-stress are presented in Fig. 1. As predicted, a greater proportion of high-stress chan low-stress Ss sought treatment during risk (2 = 2.62,P .01;Bruning & Kintz, 1968). While there was no significant difference in treatmentseeking behavior between Internals and Externals under high stress-conditions, a greater proportion of low-stressed Externals sought treatment than low-stressed Internals (z = 1.88, p .05).
