Predicting Health Locus of Control in Women through Optimism and Mindfulness

Abstract

Health locus of control (HLOC) referes to expectancies regarding whether health is controlled by one's own actions, or powerful external agents. The aim of present study was to investigate the role of optimism and mindfulness as two psychological factors in women's health locus of control. This was a descriptive study, correlational one, in which one hundred and sixty women of all women referred to health centers in Gonabad city, were selected quota sampling randomly. They completed life Orientation Test (LOT), five act mindfulness questionnaire, and multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC). Based on the findings, there was a significant positive correlation between internal health locus of control and optimism. The result of step by step regression showed that mindfulness could explain negatively 25 percents of variance ofexternal health locus of control. Also optimism and non-judgment specified positively 6 percents of variance ofinternal health locus of control. So optimism and mindfulness can enhance internal health locus of control and reduce external health locus of control in women.

Keywords

• Optimism
• mindfulness
• health locus of control
• women