PERCEIVED HEALTH RISKS AND HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate adolescents’ unrealistic perception to health risks and to identify its relationship with health locus of control. 425 adolescents randomly selected from 5 junior-high and high schools in Kyunggi-do, Korea were the subjects used in this study. Data gathered through the use of the modified Self and Other Risk Rating Scale and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control. Results indicated that adolescents tended to have unrealistic perceptions about their vulnerability to the overall health risks and perceived their likelihood of health mishap as lower than that of others in the same age. In addition, the findings identified that powerful-other health locus of control and chance health locus of control were significantly correlated with all sub dimensions of health risks. This study will be useful in designing health risk reduction interventions congruent with perceptions of adolescents.