TY - JOUR
T1 - Reliability and validity of the multidimensional health locus of control scale in Japan
T2 - Relationship with demographic factors and health-related behavior
AU - Kuwahara, Aya
AU - Nishino, Yoshikazu
AU - Ohkubo, Takayoshi
AU - Tsuji, Ichiro
AU - Hisamichi, Shigeru
AU - Hosokawa, Toru
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - We assessed the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC scale) in a rural Japanese community. The study subjects were 2388 men and 2454 women aged 40-79 years, who completed a questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, health-related behavior, such as smoking and drinking, and the MHLC. The Cronbach α of the MHLC scale, which is an indicator of the internal consistency of the scale, was within the range 0.62-0.76. Elderly subjects, women, and subjects with fewer years of education showed more "external" belief, which is generally consistent with previous reports from overseas. Subjects with adverse health behavior, such as smoking and excess drinking, also had more "external" belief. These results indicate that the MHLC scale has sufficient reliability and validity among the Japanese population. Use of the MHLC scale should help to provide a better understanding of health belief among Japanese, and development of health education programs to prevent lifestyle-related disease.
AB - We assessed the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC scale) in a rural Japanese community. The study subjects were 2388 men and 2454 women aged 40-79 years, who completed a questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, health-related behavior, such as smoking and drinking, and the MHLC. The Cronbach α of the MHLC scale, which is an indicator of the internal consistency of the scale, was within the range 0.62-0.76. Elderly subjects, women, and subjects with fewer years of education showed more "external" belief, which is generally consistent with previous reports from overseas. Subjects with adverse health behavior, such as smoking and excess drinking, also had more "external" belief. These results indicate that the MHLC scale has sufficient reliability and validity among the Japanese population. Use of the MHLC scale should help to provide a better understanding of health belief among Japanese, and development of health education programs to prevent lifestyle-related disease.
KW - Health behavior
KW - Health locus of control
KW - Reliability
KW - Validity
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U2 - 10.1620/tjem.203.37
DO - 10.1620/tjem.203.37
M3 - Article
C2 - 15185970
AN - SCOPUS:3042596186
VL - 203
SP - 37
EP - 45
JO - Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine
JF - Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine
SN - 0040-8727
IS - 1
ER -