Abstract
Locus of control and self-esteem were examined as moderators of links between negative life events and psychological symptoms in 238 young people 8 to 16 years old. Results indicated that locus of control buffered the effects of stressors on psychological symptoms, and the pattern of buffering did not differ by age or gender. Self-esteem buffered the link between Stressors and symptoms, but only for girls. Further analyses with girls only revealed a conjunctive moderation effect of locus of control and self-esteem: When faced with many negative life events, girls who have both an external locus of control and low esteem show the highest psychological maladjustment.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 393-413 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health