Call for your Health

Understanding the concept of locus of control is important to be successful in the quest for improved quality of life. An individual’s locus of control may be either internal or external. When people view problems concerning their health or other parts of their lives as generally “out of their control” (that is, they view themselves as being at the mercy of other people, places, and events), they have an external locus of control. On the other hand, people who view their own behaviors as having a major effect, who feel that they are at least partially the “masters of their fate,” and who recognize that they can change the course of their health have an internal locus of control. People with an internal locus of control are more likely to succeed in wellness activities because they assume the necessary responsibility for their actions.Another vital concept in a wellness lifestyle is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to peoples belief in their ability to accomplish a specific task or behavior. Perhaps the most important influence in determining success of a wellness plan is people’s perceptions that they can complete it. Although the support of others is encouraging, success is likely to require generating a personal sense of competence. Self-efficacy is not earned, inherited, or acquired, it is something you bestow on yourself.

Self-efficiency suggests that people’s beliefs in their ability to perform specific behaviors influences the following -

1.  Their choice of behavior and the situations that will be avoided or attempted, such as to reduce use of drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, to initiate an exercise regimen, or to practice relaxation.
2. The effort they will expend participating in a specific task (Often, more energy is devoted to a task, such as brushing and flossing teeth, when the individual perceives that it will be successful.)
3.  How long a person will persist with a task, such as maintaining an exercise program, even when facing difficulties
4.  Emotional reactions, such as anxiety (Negative emotions may be aroused when an individual is confronted with the threat of failure.)
5. People define their ability to succeed at various tasks in the following four ways.
6. By actually performing or accomplishing the task
7. By seeing others perform or accomplish the task without adverse effects
8. Through verbal persuasion
9. Through stressful or taxing experiences or circumstances that arouse the emotions

A strong sense of efficacy through healthy behavior is essential for self-regulation. For high-level wellness to be achieved, individuals must see themselves as successful and believe that they can accomplish a task. Although it is locus of control that establishes an attitude toward one’s role in achieving wellness, it is self-efficacy that establishes behavior. Self-efficacy links knowing what to do and actually accomplishing the task.