Adolescents' use of tobacco, health locus of control, and self-monitoring.
This study examined the association of the traits, health locus of control, and self-monitoring with adolescents' tobacco uptake. Participants were 112 rural adolescents (12 to 19 years old, M = 15.3). Of that sample, 33% used tobacco. Tobacco users were found to score lower on the dimension of Internality and higher on the dimension of Chance, as compared with nonusers of tobacco, indicating a more external Health Locus of Control. In addition, tobacco users were lower self-monitors than were nonusers. These results suggest that adolescents who use tobacco feel less in control of their lives in relation to nonusers, believe that chance plays a larger role in their health, and believe they may be unable to monitor and adapt their communication to achieve positive outcomes.
Department of Communication Studies, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA. mboothbu@wvu.edu
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Booth-Butterfield
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Anderson
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Booth-Butterfield
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology