Psychometric evaluation of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales in English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garcia-Alcaraz, Cristian; Ataseven, Burcin; Mills, Sarah; Roesch, Scott C; Sadler, Georgia Robins; Malcarne, Vanessa L
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 26:Number 14(2021)
• Page Start: 2958
• Page End: 2965
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: health locus of control -- Hispanic Americans -- Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales -- Spanish; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105320919884
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The English and Spanish versions of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales have not been psychometrically evaluated for use with Hispanic Americans. Hispanic American adults ( N = 436) completed the English ( n = 210) or Spanish ( n = 226) Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales. A multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis did not support equivalent four-factor structures for Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic Americans. Follow-up exploratory factor analyses of the 24 items supported an 18-item, four-factor structure for English-speaking Hispanic Americans and a 22-item, three-factor structure for Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans. These results suggest caution when using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales with Hispanic Americans.