LOCUS OF CONTROL IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Administered the Internal-External (I-E) scale to 128 acute psychiatric inpatients during their 1st and 7th wk. of hospitalization. Ss' scores at Wk. 1 were within the average range found for nonpatient samples. Schizophrenics were more external than nonschizophrenics (p < .02). Older Ss were more internal (p < .05). I-E scores correlated significantly with scores on self-confidence and frustration. The results, with an acute sample, suggest that Ss with greater psychopathology and fewer social skills (schizophrenics, younger patients, and to a slight extent, males) are more external. At Wk. 7, after clinical improvement, the Ss' I-E scores had not changed significantly. Depressives, however, became more internal (p < .02). Schizophrenics differed from nonschizophrenics on change scores (p < .001). Female Ss became more internal (p < .01). (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.