Multidimensional locus of control and drug use among high school students

Examined the relationship between D. W. Reid and E. E. Ware's multidimensional measure of internal-external (I-E) locus of control and licit and illicit drug use among 920 high school students over a 2-yr period. Results based on 1-way ANOVAs indicate that dimensions of I-E control are differentially related to drug use. Greater externality on the dimension of fatalism was significantly related to the use of a number of drugs, while externality on the dimensions of self-control and sociopolitical control was not consistently related to drug use. Certain interpretations regarding the relationship between fatalism and drug use were tested. Since the I-E subscales appear to have a different validity, it is concluded that older unidimensional scales may obscure the relationship between I-E and drug use. The use of multidimensional measures is suggested since these offer more precise measurement of particular expectancy domains. (French summary) (27 ref)