Influence of Locus of Control on Students’ Illness Behaviour in OgunState, Nigeria

The study addresses the issue of illness behaviour from the psychological perspectives, focusing on the predictive role of locus of control on expression of illness behaviour. A survey method was adopted and one hundred and seventy (170) undergraduates from the Redeemer’s University with mean age of eighteen (18) participated in the study. Data were collected using Nowicki- Strickland Locus of Control (N-SLSCS) and Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ). The collected data were processed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, standard deviation, independent t-test and linear regression. The results show that participants’ locus of control contributed twenty one percent (21%) to variance in illness behavior and the participants classified as having internals locus of control reported significantly different illness behaviour when compared to their counterparts classified as having external locus of control. The study concluded that locus of control plays a significant role in explaining different manifestations of illness behaviour. The implication of the study in terms of administering drugs and substances to patients by the health practitioners were discussed.