Perceived Locus of Control

• Published in: Journal of managerial psychology Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 3 - 8
• Main Authors: James, Alma E.C, Wright, Peter L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MCB UP Ltd 01.05.1993
• Subjects: Ambulance services; Control; Emergency services; Occupational psychology; Stress; Emergency services; Control; Research; Stress; Ambulance services; Occupational psychology
• ISSN: 0268-3946; 1758-7778
• DOI: 10.1108/02683949310040560

Measures perceived locus of control (LoC) and levels of occupational stress in a sample of 189 members of the Devon Ambulance Service, using Levenson′s multidimensional LoC questionnaire and a specially designed stress questionnaire. Finds significant positive relationships between levels of stress and both "chance" and "powerful others" LoC but, contrary to expectations, the relationship between internal LoC and stress was non-significant. The fact that different results were obtained for the internal and two external LoC measures supports Levenson′s decision to develop separate scales for these variables. However, the practical implications of the results are limited. As chance and powerful others do genuinely have a major impact on the working lives of ambulance service personnel, any attempt to increase internality or reduce externality would run the risk of denying or distorting reality, thus causing serious psychological problems in the longer term.