Locus of desired control and positive self-concept of the elderly

In two studies, positive self-concept correlated with belief in one's internal locus of desired control. Examining only institutionalized subjects, the first study found this relationship to be particularly prominent for male subjects (r = .68). In the second study, comparing institutionalized persons sampled from several homes for the aged and noninstitutionalized elderly, this relationship was once again most prominent for the institutionalized males (r = .53). Among these studies internality also correlated positively with nurses' rating of subject's happiness, self-ratings of contentment and happiness, and correlated negatively with length of residency in old age home and age. In response to concerns raised by Rotter (1975) over locus of control research and issues raised by Mischel (1968, 1973) and others concerning personality research in general, the present study used a more situationally specific locus of control measure specially designed to take into consideration the environmental circumstances as well as interests of the subject population being studied. Included in the measure is a desire of outcome index which added substantially to the validity coefficient.