The influence of depressive symptomatology on alcoholics' locus of control: a methodological note and a correction.
In a previously published experiment from our laboratory, we reported two findings. First, controls showed the expected negative correlation between internal and external LOC dimensions, while alcoholics did not. Second, a difference score between LOC-internal and LOC-external was correlated significantly and positively with alcoholics' abstracting impairment. Data from two new independent samples of alcoholics and controls confirmed the first finding, but not the second; further, a calculation error was discovered in the previously published data that invalidated the second result. However, in all three studies, depressive symptomatology was found to be correlated negatively with the internal-external LOC difference score in both alcoholics and controls. It is suggested that depressive symptomatology be assessed in any study that investigates LOC.
Errico
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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73104.
King
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Parsons
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OA
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003210:Concept Formation; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012718:Set, Psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology
D000431:Ethanol