General Self-efficacy, Health Locus of Control and Lifestyle as Predictors of Self-Rated Health

Through several factors affect the health of a person yet the lifestyle related factors have been reported to play a major role in the maintenance and promotion of health. Self- efficacy and health locus of control have also been reported to be related to health, though there are variations in the direction and strength of relationship. Present study was intended to examine the relationship of self-efficacy, health locus of control and lifestyle with self- reported health. It was also intended to identify the role of self- efficacy, health locus of control and lifestyle in determining health. A sample of 300 adults (150 male and 150 female) selected on incidental basis from Rohtak city and adjoining villages (Haryana state, India) were administered self- efficacy scale (Sud, Schwarzer and Jerusalem, 1998), health locus of control scale of Wallston and Wallston and De Vellis (1978) and lifestyle check assessment (Hall and Ches, 2001). All the respondents were asked to rate their health status on a five point scale ranging from “poor” (1) to “excellent” (5). The obtained data were analyzed by Pearson coefficient of correlation. To identify the role of self-efficacy, health locus of control and lifestyle in predicating self – reported health stepwise multiple regressions was done. Result revealed that selfefficacy, health locus of control (internal, chance, powerful others) and lifestyle (total score as well as component parts) were significantly and positively related with self –reported health, through the strength of the relationship varied from low to moderate. Lifestyle emerged as the strongest predictor of self- reported health accounting 31% of variance. The other significant predicators were internal health locus of control, eating practices (component of lifestyle scale) and self- efficacy and taken together with lifestyle (total score) all these accounted for 36% of the variance in self – reported health. Findings are discussed in the light of previous studies and implications are discussed.