Locus of control and anxiety as mediating variables of locus of conflict in disadvantaged youth.

A measure of trait anxiety and locus of control was administered to 134 fourth-grade children who attended a low-socioeconomic-district school. Ratings of locus of conflict were also obtained from the parents of the children. As hypothesized, external locus of control scores correlated significantly with the locus of conflict scores, although this varied for both the sex of the children and the type of behavior problems exhibited. Further analyses revealed that children with medium locus of control scores had more externalization behavior scores than children with either internal or external locus of control scores. The hypothesized relationship between anxiety and locus of conflict was not supported.

Locus of control and teacher ratings of behavior problems in preschoolers.

The present study investigated the relationship between internal-external control and behavior adjustment in 25 preschool boys and girls. Ratings were completed by the preschool teachers on 11 specific indices of behavior adjustment as observed in school. Results were nonsupportive and, in fact, were contrary to the general hypothesis that high external locus of control would be positively related to greater behavior adjustment problems, as has been found with some groups of older children and adults. Results revealed the need for more longitudinal research investigating the developmental changes of such relationships. The usefulness of employing more specific behavior problem indices rather than a general measure of adjustment-maladjustment was also demonstrated.

Mmpi characteristics of parents referred for child-custody studies.

Despite a growing trend toward, and acceptance of, joint-custody decisions, the majority of contested child placements in divorce cases are still completed through the court systems. As a result, mental health professionals remain active in assisting courts in this process through custody studies where the relative merits of each parent are established. Noticeably lacking, however, has been even descriptive data on the personality characteristics of these parents. Results from a sample (N = 38) indicated that custodial parents represented themselves in a healthier fashion, coped with feelings of anger and impulsivity more effectively, were more trusting and open toward others, and received lower alcohol use scores than noncustodial parents.

Parental locus of control and the assessment of children's personality characteristics.

The relationships between different parental locus of control orientations and their children's personality characteristics of locus of control, anxiety, intelligence, achievement, and behavioral adjustment were examined for 134 fourth-grade children and their parents. Correlational results showed that mothers' locus of control was more Consistently related to their children's Characteristics than was the fathers' locus of control although this depended somewhat on the sex of the children. Further analyses revealed that parents who were both high in external locus of control had children who scored high in anxiety and low in intelligence. However, sets of parents in which at least one of the spouses was internally controlled had children who did not differ in their personality characteristics. Results indicate that further investigative research is warrented on how parenting attitudes and behaviors affect the development of such personality characteristics in children.

Assessment of psychological reactions in disaster victims.

Through the joint efforts of the area community mental health center and an emergency relief organization, psychological reactions of flood victims were measured. A random sample of 124 adults and 54 children were interviewed, using scales reflecting measures of depression and stress. Results showed that adults perceived themselves to be significantly more depressed and stressed in areas such as adaptation and physical complaints. Children's results were mixed, depending on age, although problems existed with regressive and aggressive behaviors, fears, and in miscellaneous areas such as sleep difficulty. Recommendations are made for further community mental health involvement, as well as emphasizing the need for further empirical work in the assessment of postdisaster emotional sequelae.

Marital MMPI characteristics: a test of Arnold's signs.

Investigated the usefulness of Arnold's Signs (certain MMPI personality characteristics) in examining marital discord among three clinical groups of married couples (N = 72). Couples who were parents of children brought to a mental health facility, couples who were seeking marital counseling, and couples in the process of divorce. While it was predicted that the divorcing group would reveal the most amount of discord, results revealed that the counseling group was consistently higher on all of the signs that reached significance. Possible explanations and recommendations for the use of Arnold's Signs are made.