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Moderator variables for the relationship between life change and disorders
The Journal of General Psychology
|April 1, 1981
Summary
Life change events correlate with disorders, especially for individuals with low awareness and limited choices. Jungian types and external health locus of control significantly moderate this relationship, impacting mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Life change events are known stressors.
- Individual differences may influence vulnerability to stress-related disorders.
- Jungian typology and health locus of control are potential moderators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between life change events and the occurrence of disorders.
- To examine the moderating roles of Jungian types, health locus of control, and optimal stimulation level.
Main Methods:
- 124 undergraduate and graduate students participated.
- Moderator variables included Jungian types (e.g., Introvert, Thinking, Feeling, Judgment), health locus of control, and optimal stimulation level.
- Correlational analysis was used to assess relationships.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between life change events and disorders for specific Jungian types (Introvert, Thinking, Feeling, Judgment, rational functions).
- External health locus of control also significantly moderated the relationship.
- Optimal stimulation level did not yield significant correlations.
Conclusions:
- Low awareness and limited choices, coupled with high conditionability, may explain the strong correlation between life change events and disorders.
- Personality traits (Jungian types) and beliefs about health control (external locus of control) are important factors in stress-related disorder development.