Psychometric evaluation of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales in English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans


Garcia-Alcaraz C., ATASEVEN DOĞRU B., Mills S., Roesch S. C., Sadler G. R., Malcarne V. L.

JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, vol.26, no.14, pp.2958-2965, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 26 Issue: 14
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/1359105320919884
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index
  • Page Numbers: pp.2958-2965
  • Istanbul Kültür University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The English and Spanish versions of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales have not been psychometrically evaluated for use with Hispanic Americans. Hispanic American adults (N = 436) completed the English (n = 210) or Spanish (n = 226) Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales. A multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis did not support equivalent four-factor structures for Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic Americans. Follow-up exploratory factor analyses of the 24 items supported an 18-item, four-factor structure for English-speaking Hispanic Americans and a 22-item, three-factor structure for Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans. These results suggest caution when using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales with Hispanic Americans.