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Background A pregnant mother's commitment to following medical advice and addressing complications that arise during pregnancy, termed health locus of control (HLC), can significantly impact both maternal and fetal health, resulting in diverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between self-care behaviors in pregnancy and locus of health control. Methods This cross-sectional study focused on 245 pregnant women in Jahrom City during May–August 2024. The samples were selected with a random cluster sampling method. Jahrom was divided into four clusters (including north, south, west, and east), and two health centers were randomly selected in each cluster. The data were collected using the pregnancy self-care and HLC scale. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to determine the relationship between self-care and HLC by adjusting for age, socioeconomic factors, pregnancy-related factors and place of prenatal care. Results The average age of pregnant women was 30.38 ± 5.96 years. A significant direct correlation was between self-care and the I-HLC (r = 0.35, p  < 0.001) and P-HLC (r = 0.25, p  < 0.001) dimensions of HLC. After controlling for confounding factors (age, socioeconomic factors, gestational age, planned pregnancy, and place of prenatal care), the odds of increasing self-care in pregnant women with high I-HLC were 1.13 times higher than those with low I-HLC. Also the odds of increasing self-care in pregnant women with high P-HLC were also reported to be 1.11 times higher than those with low P-HLC. Conclusions A positive significant association was reported between P-HLC and I-HLC with self-care behaviors among pregnant women. Thus, one strategy that could assist in diminishing adverse pregnancy outcomes is to reinforce educational programs developed by health planners that emphasize the enhancement of P-HLC and I-HLC in pregnant women.

It is widely documented that negative body image is a significant public health concern due to its association with symptoms of disordered eating and worse psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to develop a path model of intrapersonal dimensions (self-efficacy and internal locus of control) as antecedents of perceived stress toward females’ body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorders. A total of 300 females, including 100 aspiring fashion models, 100 athletes and 100 students (controls), between 15 and 24 years of age (M = 19.6, SD = 1.85) participated in the study. Measures included level of psychological stress, self-efficacy and locus of control dimensions, body dissatisfaction and eating attitude disorder indices. A path analysis confirmed our research hypothesis. Comparing the three subsamples, we found better fit indexes in the two subgroups with elevated investment on their body image with respect the control group. More specifically, the model in the group of aspiring fashion models showed the best fit index. These results indicated that aspiring fashion models have a strong desire to maintain their low body mass or to become thinner. For this reason, a suitable involvement of expert health workers in the nutritional and psychological field could be extremely essential in the fashion world to maintain a healthier well-being.

It is commonly agreed that a functional dissociation with respect to the internal vs external control of movements exists for several brain regions. This has, however, only been tested in relation to the timing and preparation of motor responses, but not to ongoing movement control. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the present study addressed the neuroanatomical substrate of the internal–external control hypothesis by comparing regional brain activation for cyclical bimanual movements performed in the presence or absence of augmented visual feedback. Subjects performed a bimanual movement pattern, either with the help of on-line visual feedback of the movements (externally guided coordination) or with the eyes closed on the basis of an internal representation of the movement pattern (internally generated coordination). Visual control and baseline rest conditions were also added. Results showed a clear functional dissociation within the network involved in movement coordination. The hMT/V5+, the superior parietal cortex, the premotor cortex, the thalamus, and cerebellar lobule VI showed higher activation levels when movements were guided by visual feedback. Conversely, the basal ganglia, the supplementary motor area, cingulate motor cortex, the inferior parietal, frontal operculum, and cerebellar lobule IV-V/dentate nucleus showed higher involvement when movements were internally generated. Consequently, the present findings suggest the existence of distinct cortico-cortical and subcortico-cortical neural pathways for externally (augmented feedback) and internally guided cyclical bimanual movements. This provides a neurophysiological account for the beneficial effect of providing augmented visual feedback to optimize movements in normal and motor disordered patients.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to explore the role of perceived stress and the health locus of control in Crohn’s disease and their influence upon the development of flare-ups of this disease. (2) Methods: Stress and the external locus of control were evaluated in a sample of 64 Crohn’s patients (flare-up phase versus latency phase). The perceived stress scale (PSS-14) and the multidimensional health locus of control scale were the measurement instruments used. (3) Results: The results indicate that the patients have high stress levels during a flare-up (26.13; 27.44; 28.79; 29.67); high stress levels (28.07; 29.67; 27.44; 28.07) if they have a high external locus of control; and that the external locus of control and stress levels have a significant influence upon the existence of flare-ups in those patients with low external locus of control levels (χ2 = 11.127; df = 1: p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Actions aimed at reducing stress and external locus of control levels are necessary in Crohn’s disease.

Describes various methodologies that generate evidence pertaining to public health policy, the persuasiveness and integrity of our psychoanalytic concepts, and phenomena encountered in daily clinical practice.

This study applied social learning theory to understand how university students learned new health behaviors that impact their mental health through social media use. A cross-sectional research design was adopted with quantitative research methods to conduct the study. Data were collected using online questionnaires from a sample of 453 university students in Cameroon, Uganda and Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling techniques. Findings revealed a negative significant relationship between outcome expectations and external locus of control. On the other hand, there was a positive significant relationship between external locus of control on mental health. It is recommended that content on social media platforms should aim at promoting the learning of positive health behaviors – thereby making users better, more acceptable people in society and trustworthy. Further, online community education, sensitization and policing should be conducted in order to help educate the careless learners on the dangers of social media on mental health. In terms of policy, governments should enact laws that encourage social media practitioners to use local content in order to ensure that appropriate and culturally proper information is consumed by citizens via social media.

Current health policies emphasize the need for an equitable doctor-patient relationship, and this requires a certain level of patient empowerment. However, a systematic review of the empirical evidence on how empowerment affects medication adherence-the extent to which patients follow the physician's prescription of medication intake-is still missing. The goal of this systematic review is to sum up current state-of-the-art knowledge concerning the relationship between patient empowerment and medication adherence across medical conditions. As our conceptualization defines health locus of control and self-efficacy as being crucial components of empowerment, we explored the relationship between these two constructs and medication adherence. Relevant studies were retrieved through a comprehensive search of Medline and PsychINFO databases (1967 to 2017). In total, 4903 publications were identified. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality assessment, 154 articles were deemed relevant. Peer-reviewed articles, written in English, addressing the relationship between empowerment (predictor) and medication adherence (outcome) were included. High levels of self-efficacy and Internal Health Locus of Control are consistently found to promote medication adherence. External control dimensions were found to have mainly negative (Chance and God attributed control beliefs) or ambiguous (Powerful others attributed control beliefs) links to adherence, except for Doctor Health Locus of Control which had a positive association with medication adherence. To fully capture how health locus of control dimensions influence medication adherence, the interaction between the sub-dimensions and the attitudinal symmetry between the doctor and patient, regarding the patient's control over the disease management, can provide promising new alternatives. The beneficial effect of patients' high internal and concurrent physician-attributed control beliefs suggests that a so-called \"joint empowerment\" approach can be suitable in order to foster medication adherence, enabling us to address the question of control as a versatile component in the doctor-patient relationship.

Semen analysis is characterized by high levels of intra- and inter-laboratory variability, due to a low level of standardization, high subjectivity of the assessments, and problems with automated procedures. To improve consistency of laboratory results, quality control and training of technicians are important requisites. The goals of this study are to evaluate the results of an external quality control (EQC) program and standardized training by ESHRE Basic Semen Analysis Courses (BSAC) on the variability in manual assessments of semen parameters. We performed retrospective analyses of (1) the interlaboratory variability in the Dutch EQC program and (2) the interobserver variability in BSACs for concentration, motility, and morphology assessments. EQC data showed that the interlaboratory coefficient of variation (CV) for concentration assessment decreased (range from 24.0%-97.5% to 12.7%-20.9%) but not for morphology and motility assessments. Concentration variability was lower if improved Neubauer hemocytometers were used. Morphology assessment showed highest CVs (up to 375.0%), with many outliers in the period of 2007-2014. During BSAC, a significant reduction of interobserver variability could be established for all parameters (P < 0.05). The absence of an effect in the EQC program for motility and morphology might be explained by respectively the facts that motility assessment was introduced relatively late in the EQC program (since 2013) and that criteria for morphology assessment changed in time. BSAC results might have been influenced by the pretraining level of participants and the influence of external factors. Both EQC and training show positive effects on reducing variability. Increased willingness by laboratories to change their methods toward standards may lead to further improvements.

The urgency to develop a vaccine against the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has waxed stronger in speed, scale, and scope. However, wisdom dictates that we take a vantage position and start to examine the demographic predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The objective of this study was to examine the role of health locus of control (HLOC) in the relationship between religiosity and COVID-19 vaccination intention. In a cross-sectional survey (N = 501), we found a significantly negative association between religiosity and COVID-19 vaccination intention. This relationship was partially mediated by external HLOC. Collaborative efforts with religious institutions may influence COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Background Parents’ value of children (VOC) is a related implicit belief toward their children that may predict adolescents’ mental health. However, empirical studies are scarce about this relationship. This study investigates the relationship between parents’ VOC and adolescent depression, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods We conducted a multi-informant survey and developed a latent moderated mediation structural equation model of adolescent depression outcome of parents’ VOC. A total of 963 Chinese adolescents and their parents were recruited and examined. The parents completed the parents’ VOC scale and the adolescents responded to the scales of emotional warmth and rejection, external locus of control (LOC), and depression. Results Parents’ social and psychological VOC exerted a positive and negative direct effect respectively, on adolescent depression. Parents’ social VOC positively predicts adolescent depression through parental emotional warmth, rejection, and external LOC. Parents’ psychological VOC negatively predicts adolescent depression through emotional warmth and rejection. The indirect effects of parents’ social VOC on adolescent depression through emotional warmth and rejection were moderated by sex. Conclusions The two aspects of parents’ VOC exerted indirect effects on adolescent depression through emotional warmth and rejection or external LOC. The indirect effects of parents’ social VOC on adolescent depression were more evident among women than men. Our study extends the theoretical research framework of parents’ VOC to adolescent mental health.