Locus of control for general health and STD acquisition among adolescent girls

Purpose: To examine adolescent girls' perception of control over general he alth and sexually transmitted disease (STD) acquisition. Methods: Adolescents participating in a longitudinal study were asked quest ions regarding their perception of their locus of control. These questions, adopted from a previous measure, focused on six loci: internal control, co ntrol by parents, partners, peers, and health care providers, and chance. Results: There mere 128 girls (mean age, 17 years; range, 14.5 to 18.8); 82 % were black and 18% white. Statistically significant associations were fou nd between control of general health and STD acquisition for each locus of control subscale, with the exception of partner control. However, the girls reported significantly less control over STD acquisition than over general health for health care providers, parents, and by chance, and significantl y more partner and internal control over STD acquisition than general healt h. The correlations between parental control over general health and over S TD acquisition mere inversely correlated with age, Partner control was posi tively related to current condom use, but internal control was not. Conclusions: The degree of the locus of control was specific For STD acquis ition. Girls who believe they should be able to control STD acquisition may not be using condoms. The view of partners as having control over STD acqu isition may represent joint communication or coercion. However, in general these findings support the development of female-controlled methods for STD prevention, such as topical microbicides.