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An experimental study on locus of control, instructor follow-up contact and weight loss during and after an instructional program on self-management skills for weight control

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Locus of Control scores, instructor follow-up telephone contact and weight loss by participants during and 6 months after an instructional program on weight control. The instructional program was designed to teach participants self-management skills to assist them to change eating and exercise habits significantly enough for weight loss to occur and be maintained over time. The research sample consisted of 24 adult women (ages 19 - 74) who registered for a night school class on weight control. Locus of Control was measured by the Rotter and the James Internal-External Locus of Control tests. Weight loss was measured by pounds lost and percentage of body weight change attained. On the basis of the Locus of Control scores, participants were divided into three equal groups of low, medium and high external scores. An equal number of participants from each of these three groups was randomly assigned into either a one or four telephone call instructor follow-up group. A 2 x 3 analysis of variance test with four repeated measures was used to determine the difference between the weight change means of each of the groups (three locus of control groups and two follow-up groups). The results of this statistical testing indicated that there were no statistically significant (.05) relationships between weight loss and either Locus of Control score or instructor follow-up contact schedule. The effects of several situational and biographical variables on amount of weight loss was also examined. A multiple regression analysis of eleven variables to predict weight loss showed that only attendance was statistically significant and then only at the end of the 6 month follow-up period. However weight change on its own was shown to be significant over the repeated measures both for pounds lost and percent of body weight change. The weight change was significant for the participants in the program but was not predictable either by Locus of Control score or instructor telephone follow-up contact schedule. Reasons for lack of statistically significant results were discussed and recommendations for future research suggested.

Text

2010-03-17

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22020

Administrative, Adult and Higher Education

University of British Columbia

Graduate