Social
Locus of Control and Subsequent Physical and Mental Health: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach Siqi Wu* Siqi Wu Wu Wu University College London/United Nations
Existing research has shown that locus of control is a key psychological construct influencing both physical and mental health. Individuals with a more internal locus of control tend to exhibit or experience more positive health behaviors and outcomes, better well-being and greater resilience, while a more external locus of control is often linked to worse health outcomes and higher psychological distress. These associations span across diverse cultural and demographic contexts and have been observed in areas such as chronic disease management, healthcare use, and lifestyle choices. Building on this theory, our study examines the impact of locus of control in early adulthood using data from Next Steps, a cohort of approximately 16,000 people in England born in 1989-90. We examine associations between locus of control at age 15 and 18 outcomes at age 32 spanning three domains: health behaviors (9), physical health outcomes (4), and mental health and well-being (5), adjusting for 11 demographic, familial, and baseline health covariates measured at age 14. We apply an outcome-wide longitudinal approach that enables the systematic examination of a single exposure across multiple outcomes using consistent confounding control, reducing selective reporting, and providing a more comprehensive assessment of the diverse effects of locus of control on health and well-being. Preliminary results indicate that a more internal locus of control is associated with lower disability, better self-rated health, lower smoking prevalence, more frequent fruit and vegetable intakes, higher life satisfaction, lower risk of depressive disorder, and lower loneliness. By applying this novel outcome-wide approach and accounting for a rich set of covariates, the study both extends existing evidence on locus of control and offers insights into how supporting adolescents’ locus of control may contribute to healthier trajectories into adulthood.