Work-related, socio-cultural, and personal factors associated with locus of control among Australian general practitioners. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parajuli, Daya Ram; Ullah, Shahid; McGrail, Matthew; McLachlan, Craig S.; Isaac, Vivian
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 155(2022)
• Page Start: 589
• Page End: 595
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Locus of control (LOC) -- General practitioners -- Work-life balance -- Australia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Locus of control (LoC) is a social cognition, that relates to the level of self-control that people have over their personal environment that influences their life. In this context, LoC is frequently associated with work-related behavioral outcomes, ranging from job attitudes, career behaviors, stress, and burnout. Objective: To investigate the association between LoC, and work-related behavioral factors, socio-cultural factors, and personal factors among Australian General Practitioners (GPs). Methods: This study utilized data from the 2010 Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) survey of doctors. Locus of control (LoC) was measured by a 7-point Likert scale based on Pearlin-Schooler Mastery/Self-efficacy 7-item Scale. Higher score indicated lower internal LoC. Multivariate linear regression model was performed to determine the independent predictors of LoC. Results: Of 3, 664 GP participants, LoC did not differ by gender. Poor/fair self-rated health, working in urban location, running a stressful practice, poor balance of professional and personal commitments, poor support network, financial circumstances after retirement, and perception of unrealistic expectation by patients were significant predictors for a lower Internal LoC in a multivariate linear regression model. Adjusted R 2 explained 22.4% of variation in predicting the LoC in our models. Conclusions: LoC of Australian GPs is negatively affected by poor work-life balance, inadequate support, and unrealistic patient expectation. These work-place specific factors could be targeted by interventions to improve GPs wellbeing.