title: Multidimensional health locus of control and depressive symptoms in the multi-ethnic population of the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ethnic inequalities in health in Western societies are well-documented but poorly understood. We examined associations between health locus of control (HLC) and depressive symptoms among native and non-native Dutch people in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses on a representative sample of the multi-ethnic population of Amsterdam and The Hague (n = 10,302). HLC was measured with the multidimensional health locus of control scale. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Kessler Psychological Distress scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses showed that HLC contributes to ethnic differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Respondents who scored high on external locus of control (PHLC) were more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with a low score on PHLC (β = 0.133, p < 0.001). Conversely, respondents scoring high on internal locus of control (IHLC) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to those scoring low on IHLC (β = -0.134, p < 0.001). The associations were most pronounced among Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that HLC contributes to ethnic inequalities in depressive symptoms, especially among Turkish and Moroccan ethnic groups. Professionals (e.g. clinicians and policy makers) need to take HLC into account when assessing and treating depression among ethnic minority groups, particularly in Turkish and Moroccan populations. Future research should look further into the associations within these groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Documentation, and Health Promotion, Municipal Health Service Amsterdam (GGD), P. O. Box 2200, 1000 CE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, tvdijk@ggd.amsterdam.nl.
authors.forename: Tobias K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Henriëtte
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dijkshoorn
authors.forename: Ad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agyemang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013532:Suriname / Q000208:ethnology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology