Life stress, depression and anxiety: Internal- external control as a moderator variable

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Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between indices of life change and measures of depression and anxiety as a function of subjects' locus of control orientation. Based on the assumption that life changes may have their most adverse effect on individuals who perceive themselves as having little control over environmental events, it was predicted that significant correlations between life change and depression and anxiety would be found only with subjects external in their locus of control orientation. The results of this investigation were in line with this hypothesis. Furthermore, the findings provide support for conceptualizing life stress primarily in terms of negative life change rather than in terms of change per se.

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This research was funded by the Organizational Effectiveness Research Program, Office of Naval Research (Code 452), under contract No. N00014-75-C-0905, NR 170-804.

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