Beliefs about the Etiology of Depression The Relationship to Locus of Control and Nationality

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Raghavan, Chemba

Keywords

Locus of Control, Cross-Cultual, Lay Beliefs, Etiology of Depression, Spain, Beliefs about Depression

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Depressed patients have been shown to believe that depression is biologically based to a higher extent than do non-depressed laypersons. Beliefs about the etiology of depression have also been shown to affect treatment compliance and treatment adherence among depressed patients. In addition, individuals with an external locus of control are more likely to be depressed than those with an internal locus of control. The purpose of this study was to see whether beliefs about etiology of depression differed among a Spanish sample and an American sample, whether those beliefs differed according to internal or external locus of control, and whether those beliefs differed by gender. College students at New College of Florida in Sarasota, FL (N = 55) and the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, Spain (N = 49) completed Rotter's I-E Locus of Control scale and a modified version of Srinivasan's scale about beliefs about etiology of depression. Results were analyzed using ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, a post-hoc t-test, and Pearson correlations. Spanish females were more likely than American females to believe that depression is caused by certain ways of evaluating or thinking about life experiences. American students were more likely to believe depression was genetically caused, whereas Spanish students were more likely to believe it to be caused by personality, as well as by an imbalance in energy. Females were more likely to believe depression is caused by biological factors, as well as by genetic predisposition. There were negative correlations between internal locus of control and the belief that depression is caused by lack of spirituality or a loss of faith, and the belief that depression is caused by unhealthy or dysfunctional relationships. There was a positive correlation between internal locus of control and the belief that depression is caused by personality. Implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are given.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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