[Relationships between resting behavior and health locus of control among elementary schoolgirls]

To clarify the effects of Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLC) on the practice of resting behavior. Resting has recently gained attention because of overwork and stressful social situations. We investigated daily preventive health behaviors and Health Locus of Control (HLC) in children and their mothers over three years from 1991. This paper reports on the relationships between resting and IHLC among elementary schoolgirls.

The subjects of this study in 1991 were public elementary schoolgirls in their 3rd year (8-9 years old) and their mothers. Three years, later in 1994, we investigated the same children and their mothers, with 104 girls answering questionnaires in both studies. The resting behavior data was obtained from the question "Do you rest or take a nap when you are very tired?". We used Parcel & Meyer's Children's HLC Scales for children and Horige's Japanese version of Health Locus of Control (JHLC) Scales for mothers. Only the data concerning IHLC was extrapolated for this study.

1. The data for resting behavior for 1991 in the 3rd grade did not coincide with that for 1994 in the 6th grade. On the whole rest was taken more frequently in the 3rd grade than in the 6th grade. 2. Perceived health state had a significant association with resting behavior. 3. Girls who perceived rest was relating directly to their personal health, took a rest more often than those who did not perceive a personal application for rest. 4. IHLC data distribution shows a marked difference between grades. Scores were significantly higher in the 6th grade than in the 3rd grade. This rising tendency of internality seems to be a developmental change. 5. IHLC scores of 1991 3rd graders classified their 3rd grade behavior patterns. The 3rd grade (1991) "usually taking a rest" group scored significantly higher than the other groups. 1991 IHLC scores classified their 1994 6th grade behavior patterns. The 6th grade (1994) "usually taking a rest" group also scored significantly higher than the other groups. 6. The data for resting behavior of the girls did not coincide with that of their mothers. There were no correlations between the girls's IHLC scores and their mothers's IHLC scores.

This study revealed some significant relationships between resting behaviors and IHLC scores among the schoolgirls. It seems that girls who had high IHLC tendency in the 3rd grade were growing up with this tendency. Perhaps in the interest of self-care, they elected to rest to keep healthy when they were tired.