Cognitive processes contributing to depression in adolescents were studied in 15 clinically depressed, 15 somewhat depressed, and 15 nondepressed mostly female adolescents ages 13 to 16 years. Lower self-esteem, greater pessimism, more polarized construing, increased isolation, and a more external locus of control characterized the clinically…

Obtained reports of coping and goals from 33 children being treated for leukemia. Coping strategies were classified as primary control coping (attempts to alter objective conditions), secondary control coping (attempts to adjust to objective conditions), or relinquished control (no attempt to cope). Secondary control coping was positively…

Reports results of a study of 187 nurses about stressful occupational episodes and the coping strategies and perceived controllability for each, controlling for negative affectivity. Effectiveness of coping was measured across three dimensions: perceived coping effectiveness, job affect, and psychological adjustment. Discusses implication of…

Assessed impact of relocation on health and well-being of 196 nursing home residents who relocated to new facility. Relocated residents participated in program to enhance sense of control and predictability over move. Analyses of medical records, nurses' ratings, and interviews strongly suggest that move had no negative effect on residents as…

Describes political and social action group of cognitively intact nursing home residents, organized in response to residents' desire to work on social issues and coordinated by recreational therapist who expected participation to maximize residents' autonomy and sense of control. Benefits mentioned by participants included opportunity to…

Examined relationship between self-esteem, perceived control, interpersonal conflict between spouses, global and intimacy life quality, and stress produced by infertility in 185 married infertile couples. Found that fertility problem stress had indirect negative effects on life quality via its mediating effects on self-esteem, internal control,…

Self-report, retrospective study of 115 adolescents compared self-esteem and locus of control of never hospitalized to that of adolescents hospitalized during adolescence, before adolescence, and during and before adolescence. Found no significant differences, although findings raised questions about long-term effects of early experiences,…

Reviews empirical studies of cognitive self-efficacy from childhood through old age, addressing issues of definition and measurement related to the self-efficacy construct. Integrates findings of research on self-efficacy and establishes generalizations regarding the relationship of self-efficacy to choice and goal-setting behaviors, a sense of…

Examined adaptation to chronic pain in 118 patients. Control appraisals, ignoring pain, using coping self-statements, and increasing activities were positively related to psychological functioning. Control appraisals, diverting attention, ignoring pain, and using coping self-statements were positively related to activity level for patients…

Focused on the dynamics of excuse giving and teachers' reactions to excuse-giving behavior by students experiencing academic difficulties. Analysis of teachers' reports indicated that students were most likely to attribute their academic difficulties to external, uncontrollable factors, whereas teachers tended to believe that the "real"…

Examined dimensions of ethical judgment used by practicing social workers (n=27). Three sets of bipolar dimensions were inferred from analysis of interview transcripts: focus of decisions, ranging from emphasis on means to emphasis on ends; interpersonal orientation, ranging from independence or self-determination to mutuality or community; and…

Investigates the relationship of locus-of-control orientation and task structure to the science problem-solving performance of 100 same-sex, sixth-grade student pairs. Some overall conclusions were that there was no relationship between locus-of-control orientation and effectiveness of problem-solving strategy. Internality was significantly…

Health locus of control was investigated across culture of origin (Mexicanism), mainstream culture (Americanism), and bicultural linguistic-acculturation domains among 424 Mexican-American adolescents. Belief in powerful others' external control was the strongest explanation of locus of control in the culture-of-origin domain; internal control was…

Investigates the joint effects of locus of control and test format on test anxiety with college students (N=86). Examines the relationship between students' attitudes toward test format and test anxiety. Results show no differential effect of locus of control on test anxiety across test format; students were more anxious about essay tests than…

A model based on Bandura's Social Learning Theory proposes the following personality traits as determinants of career success: locus of control, self-monitoring, self-esteem, and optimism, along with job performance and person-to-environment fit. (SK)