Does locus of control influence subjective and psychological well-being?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.231
• Publication Date: 2014-03-17T01:32:16Z
• Authors: R.J. Marrero Quevedo; M. Carballeira Ab...
• Keywords: 0502 economics and business; 05 social sciences; 3. Good health

The interest of research in well-being has been constantly growing. The principal aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between locus of control and well-being. From an original sample of 1403 adults from general population, two groups were formed: one composed by 67 individuals with high personal locus of control and low social locus of control and another composed by 91 individuals with high social locus of control and low personal locus of control. Participants completed questionnaires about subjective well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, positive and negative emotions; satisfaction with specific life domains) and six measures of psychological well-being. MANOVA showed that those individuals with personal locus of control – against those with social locus of control – had more life satisfaction, job satisfaction, positive emotions, less negative emotions, also scoring higher in every psychological well-being measures. The findings suggest the promotion of personal control in order to enhance well-being.