A Revised Version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales for Labour and Delivery (MHLC-LD-R)

Authors

  • Barna Konkolÿ Thege konkoly.thege.barna@gmail.com
    Research and Academics Division Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care 500 Church Street Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, L9M 1G3 Department of Psychiatry University of Toronto 250 College Street Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5T 1R8
  • Viola Sallay Semmelweis Egyetem, Egészségügyi Közszolgálati Kar, Mentálhigiéné Intézet & Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar, Pszichológiai Intézet; Hungary
  • Beatrix Rafael Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar, Pszichológiai Intézet &  Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Orvosi Rehabilitáció és Fizikális Medicina Tanszék; Hungary
  • Tamás Martos Semmelweis Egyetem, Egészségügyi Közszolgálati Kar, Mentálhigiéné Intézet & Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar, Pszichológiai Intézet; Hungary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.13.2018.1.2

Keywords:

control beliefs, labour and delivery, test development, validity, reliability

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to develop and psychometrically investigate a revised version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales for Labour and Delivery (MHLC-LD). The rationale for this development was the need to assess labour and delivery specific health-related control beliefs regardless of the respondent-s reproductive stage or role in giving birth (e.g., woman in reproductive age but not pregnant, expectant mother, support person, spouse, health care provider).

Methods: Altogether, 991 women (Mage=26.45 years, SD=5.42) completed the online survey, 767 (77.4%) of whom were pregnant. Beyond the newly developed, revised version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales for Labour and Delivery (MHLC-LD-R), the test battery included items measuring sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health, general health-related control beliefs, attitudes toward certain birth-related issues, and level of fulfilment with regards to autonomy and competence needs.

Results: Confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor solution representing internal-, chance-, and health care professional-related control beliefs. The internal consistency of each 4-item subscale was good. The analyses to test construct validity supported the convergent and divergent validity of the MHLC-LD-R dimensions.

Conclusion: The MHLC-LD-R is an economic and psychometrically adequate tool to assess delivery-related control beliefs regardless of the individual-s actual stage in the reproductive life cycle or role in giving birth. Further research is needed using the instrument with partners and other relevant actors in the process of labour and delivery.

Published 2018-06-13

How to Cite

Konkolÿ Thege, B., Sallay, V., Rafael, B., & Martos, T. (2018). A Revised Version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales for Labour and Delivery (MHLC-LD-R). European Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.13.2018.1.2