Validity and reliability of the multidimensional health locus of control scale for college students

496 university students participated in this study. The reliability coefficients were calculated in three different methods: test-retest, parallel forms and Cronbach alpha. In order to survey validity of the scale we used three methods including content validity, concurrent validity and construct validity.We established the content validity of the Persian translation by translating (and then back-translating) each item from the English version into the Persian version. The concurrent validity of the questionnaire, as measured by Levenson's IPC scale was .57 (P < .001), .49 (P < .01) and .53 (P < .001) for IPC, respectively. Exploratory principal components analysis supported a three-factor structure that items loading adequately on each factor. Moreover, the approximate orthogonal of the dimensions were obtained through correlation analyses. In addition, the reliability results were acceptable, too.The results showed that the reliability and validity of Persian Form A of MHLC was acceptable and respectable and is suggested as an applicable criterion for similar studies in Iran.Health Locus of Control (HLC, hereafter) is one of the most commonly-used parameters of health belief in planning the health education programs. In fact, the HLC is the degree to which individual believe that his or her behavior is controlled by external or internal factors [1,2].The Multidimensional HLC scales have been used as one of the most efficient measures of health-related beliefs for more than a quarter of a century. HLC has been recognized as an important construct in understanding and predicting health behaviors [3]. It has helped to shape our thinking about the role of beliefs in the context of health behaviors, health outcomes and health care. According to Rotter's (1966) social learning theory, individuals may have internal or external locus of control, often abbreviated as I/E dimension [4,5].Wallston with their colleagues (1978) deserves the acclaim to have applied successfully