Applicability of the Parcel-Meyer Children's Health Locus of Control Scale

Locus of control has emerged as an important outcome variable in many health education programs. This study evaluated one instrument designed to measure this construct. Responses to the Parcel-Meyer Children's Health Locus of Control Scale from two groups of sixth grade students were collected to consider fit of the items to the underlying theoretical model and invariance of the finding from different populations. Factor structures from the two groups did not match one another or Levenson's model. Several items did not have any major loadings. Lack of fit and variance of the results is discussed in terms of the items being inappropriate for this age group, since seven and nine of the 20 items had almost no item variance with 90% or more of students responding with the internal answer. Revision of the scale is recommended.