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date: 13 May 2025

Fatalism and Locus of Control as a Consideration When Designing Health and Risk Messageslocked

Fatalism and Locus of Control as a Consideration When Designing Health and Risk Messageslocked

  • Lijiang ShenLijiang ShenDepartment of Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University

Summary

Fatalism is a set of beliefs that encompasses such dimensions as predestination, pessimism, and attribution of one’s health (life events) to luck. Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they are in control of events that affect them. Individuals with an external locus of control perceive their life is controlled by environmental factors they can’t change, or by chance or fate. Fatalism and external locus of control are both negatively associated with health behaviors and health outcomes; and contribute to health disparities due to the link between culture and socio-economic factors.

Keywords

Subjects

  • Health and Risk Communication

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