Locus of Control and Psychological Well-Being: Separating the Measurement of Internal and External Constructs -- A Pilot Study

When measuring the relationship between locus of control (LOC) and psychological well-being, internal and external locus of control have been bound within a single construct. In this pilot study, it was hypothesized that internal and external locus of control would each predict unique variance in psychological well-being. University students (n = 577) took part in a self-report survey through an online data-collection system. Using simultaneous linear regression analyses, results showed that external LOC predicted unique variance in self-esteem, depression, and stress. Internal LOC was found to have no unique association with psychological well-being. This implies that internal and external LOC should be measured as two separate constructs, and that external LOC is the main factor in predicting well-being.