A Comparison of health locus of control and physical activity among Seventh-day Adventists and non-Seventh-day Adventists

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the correlation between physical activity (PA) levels and health locus of control (HLOC: internal, external-chance, external-powerful others, God/God locus of health control) among Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) and non-SDAs. The sample of this study included 185 individuals aged 22 to 81 who were employed by or attending an SDA affiliated higher education institution during the 2020-2021 academic school year. By completing the survey voluntarily, the participants provided their PA level and information regarding their HLOC. To analyze the impact of HLOC on PA, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. While overall results for a majority of respondents showed high levels of PA, SDAs reported statistically significant lower PA than did non-SDAs. HLOC (internal, external-chance, external-powerful others, God/God locus of health control) was not a significant predictor for PA.