Psychological Reports, 1992, 70, 1184-1186. O Psychological Reports 1992

LOCUS O F CONTROL ORIENTATION O F OBESE ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND CHILDREN O F ALCOHOLICS IN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT ' JON K. MILLS Rooseueit University Htrrnana Hospilal-Michael Reese Summary.-Obese adolescents and children of alcoholics have been reported to exhibit an external locus of control orientation. Due to the perceived loss of control over personal eating behavior versus limited control over environmental circumstances, it was believed that obese adolescenr girls would show greater externality than children of alcoholics. Rotter's I-E Scale was administered to 19 moderarely obese adolescent girls and 10 girls who were children of alcoholics in ourpatient treatment. While both groups scored within the external range of control orientation, there was no statistically significant difference between the samples. Contrary to prediction, obese adolescent girls and adolescents from alcoholic environments have similar world views on control orientation.

Locus of control has been a widely studied psychological construct by those interested 'in addictions (Cox, 1987; Stiegel-Moore & Rodin, 1986). Although much research has focused on adult psychopathology associated with addiction (Blane & Leonard, 1987; Brownell & Foreyt, 1986), little research on locus of control has been done with adolescents. Given the increasing attention to the effects of alcoholic parents on the psychological development of their children (Woititz, 1983), it is typically believed that children of alcoholics grow up with little belief in their ability to control environmental circumstances in their lives. Children of alcoholics come from all types of family environments, but one prevalent element is that they tend to exhibit very low self-esteem (Woititz, 1983). Children of alcoholics typically experience emotional deprivation, neglect, and physical abuse within a dysfunctional family milieu characterized by unpredictability and pervasive anxiety. In particular, Mills (1991a), Cermak and Rosenfeld (1987), and Callan and Jackson (1986) reporced that such children show an external control orientation. Similarly, obese adolescents have also been described as externally oriented since they are unable to control their eating (Mills, 1991b). Because obese adolescents experience the detrimental effects of food addiction and subjectively feel they are unable to control their behavior, it was hypothesized that obese adolescents would show more external control orien-

'Address correspondence to J. K. Mills, Roosevelt University, 1505 East 3lst Street, #2W, LaGrange Park, IL 60525.

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tation than a sample of children of alcoholics. This is based on the assumption that the perceived loss of control over personal volition and behavior would be experienced more acutely and generalized to other aspects of life. This would contrast with individuals who feel that they have limited power and control over their environment rather than personal behavior. Differences between adolescent groups in the perceived loss of control over personal behavior versus the loss of control over environmental conditions may merit different considerations for treatment paradigms and strategies for service delivery. Method.-Rotter's (1966) Internal-External (I-E) Locus of Control Scale was given to 19 obese adolescent girls and 10 girls who were children of alcoholics in outpatient treatment. The obese girls were recruited from a comprehensive weight-loss program where they were receiving outpatient treatment including medical, nutritional, behavioral, and psychological interventions. Subjects were diagnosed by clinical standards for obesity and were at least 50 pounds above their ideal weight according to standardized norms. The sample of children of alcoholics was recruited from an outpatient mental health facility where they were receiving individual and group treatment for emotional adjustment problems resulting from living in an alcoholic home environment. All sampled had at least one parent or principal caretaker who was an alcoholic. Both samples were administered the I-E scale during the first three weeks of treatment. Data collected represented 100% of the population at each facility and participation was voluntary. Results and Discussion.-Ages ranged for the obese sample from 13 to 18 years (M = 15.7) and for the children of alcoholics from 13 to 18 years (M = 15.3). Locus of control means were 10.9 (SD = 2.5) for the obese girls and 9.2 (SD = 3.1) for the children of alcoholics. A two-tailed t test comparing the groups was not statistically significant (t,, = -1.57, p > ,051. Contrary to prelction, there was no difference in locus of control between the two samples; however, both groups exhibited an external orientation relative to the scores of Rotter's (1966) original normative sample. This suggests that, while obese adolescents experience the direct effects of limited control over their eating behavior, children of alcoholics experience limited control over their environment. REFERENCES BLANE,H. T., & LEONARD, K. E . (1987) Psychological theories of drinking and alcoholism. New York: Guilford. BROWNELL, K. D., & FOREYT,J. F? (1986) Handbook of eating disorders. New York: Basic Books. CALLAN,V. J., & JACKSON, D. (1986) Chddren of alcoholic fathers and recovered alcoholic fathers: personal and family functioning. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 47, 180-182. CERMAK,T. L., & ROSENFELD, A. A. (1987) Therapeutic considerations with adult children of alcoholics. Advances in Alcohol and Substance Abrrse, 6(4), 17-32.

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Cox, W. M. (1987) Personality theory and research. In H . T. Blane & K. E. Leonard (Eds.), Psychological theories ofdrinking and alcoholism. New York: Guilford. Pp. 55-89. Mrus, J. K. (1991a) A comparison between locus of control in inpatient alcoholics and children of alcoholics. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 36(3), 1-6. Mrus, J. K. (1991b) D~fferencesin locus of control between obese adult and adolescent females undergo~ngweight reduction. Journal of Psychology. 125, 195-197. ROTTER,J. B. (1966) Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcements. Psychofogrcal Monographs: General and Applied. 80, No. 1 (Whole No. 609). STIEGEL-MOORE, R., & RODM,J. (1986) The influence of ps chological variables in obesity. In K. D. Brownell & J. l? Foreyt (Eds.), Handbook o{eating disorderz. New York: Basic Books. Pp. 99-121. Worrrrz, J. G . (1983) Adult children of alcoholics. Pompano Beach, CA: Health Communications, Inc.

Accepted May 14, 1992.

Locus of control orientation of obese adolescent girls and children of alcoholics in outpatient treatment.

Obese adolescents and children of alcoholics have been reported to exhibit an external locus of control orientation. Due to the perceived loss of cont...
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