The Relationship between Health Locus of Control and Individual

Adherence to Health Protocols

Yoza Okta Saputra

and Nurmina

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia

Keywords: Health Locus of Control, Adherence, Health Protocols, Covid-19.

Abstract: The covid-19 outbreak has affected more than 180 countries around the world. adherence is one of the keys

to preventing the spread of the spread of the covid-19 virus. One of the factors that influence adherence is

health locus of control. This study use a correlational method that examines the relationship between health

locus of control with individual adherence to health protocols. The respondents in this study are 160 people.

The selection of respondents using purposive sampling. Data analysis using Spearman-Rho. The results

showed that there was a significant relationship between health locus of control and adherence to health

protocols with p = 0.000 (p <0.05) and r = 0,359.

1 INTRODUCTION

The number of people infected with the Covid-19

virus continues to increase every day. There are more

than 196 million positive cases of the Covid-19 virus

in the world. In Indonesia more than 1.3 million.

Around 3.4 million were declared cured and more

than 95,000 died (Covid19.go.id, 2021). The number

of cases and deaths from the COVID-19 virus in

Indonesia is high compared to other Southeast Asian

countries. According to the Covid-19 Task Force,

many people who do not comply with health protocol

rules are one of the causes of the increasing number

of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia.

Novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019) is a new

type of virus that belongs to the SARSr-CoV virus

(Zhou et al., 2020). The COVID-19 virus infects the

acute respiratory tract in humans (Zhou et al., 2020).

Some of the symptoms, namely anosmia, dysgeusia,

fever, coughing, sore throat, dizziness, difficulty

breathing, malaise, indigestion, and loss of the ability

to smell (Kaye, et.al 2020; Singhal, 2020). groups that

are vulnerable to the covid-19 virus, namely the

elderly, smokers, men, children, and people with

chronic diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart

disease and respiratory disease) (Siagian, 2020; Liu et

al., 2020).

The Indonesian government has issued a number

of health protocols rules with the aim of preventing

and breaking the chain of the Covid-19 virus. Some

of these health protocols are using masks, social

distancing of two meters, avoiding crowds, washing

hands regularly, covering with hand pads when

coughing or sneezing. , checking body temperature,

swab tests for everyone who has been in contact with

Covid-19 patients, and regional quarantine. (WHO,

2020; Ministry of Health, 2020). However, in fact

there are still many people who do not comply with

these rules.

People who tend to not comply with the rules of

covid-19 are young adults and men (Al-Hanawi et al.,

2020; Nivette et al., 2021). Men and women, namely

the attitude and application of rules (Al-Hanawi et al.,

2020). Many people who comply with health

protocols are still infected with the covid-19 virus,

especially those who do not comply at all. So, an

adherence attitude is needed because as a measure to

prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Adherence is an individual's positive behavior in

applying the rules that have been approved by the

health service (Horne et al., 2005). One of the

psychological factors affect adherence is the health

locus of control (Zahednezhad, Poursharifi, &

Babapour, 2011). Wallston, Wallston, & DeVellis

(1978) health locus of control is the level of

individual beliefs about health and behaviors that

affect health internal or outside of control, chance,

fate, or luck (external).

The research of Náfrádi, Nakamoto, & Schulz

(2017) shows health locus of control has an effect on

adherence behavior related to health. In addition,

Okta Saputra, Y. and Nurmina, .

The Relationship between Health Locus of Control and Individual Adherence to Health Protocols.

DOI: 10.5220/0011095300003368

In Proceedings of the International Conference of Mental Health (Icometh 2021), pages 59-63

ISBN: 978-989-758-586-9

Adhanty, Ayubi, & Anshari (2021) also found that

there was a significant relationship between health

locus of control and adherence. It is hoped that

individuals with a good health locus of control will

tend to prevent themselves from getting rid of the

covid-19 virus. One of the behaviors related to health

during the pandemic is adherence to health protocols.

So, this study will focus on adherence which is

influenced by psychological factor health locus of

control.

2 METHOD

This study uses quantitative methods. According to

Azwar (2013) quantitative is a method used to

analyze data in the form of numerical statistics.

Meanwhile, the type in this study is correlational.

According to Gay, Mills & Airasian (2011)

correlational is a method to check the correlation

between two or more variables.

Population is the generalization area of the subject

that has certain characteristics (Gay, Mills &

Airasian, 2011). The population in this study is the

people of the city of Padang. The sampling method

used purposive sampling technique. According to

Gay, Mills & Airasian (2011) purposive sampling is

a sampling technique based on certain phenomena or

considerations. The criteria for the subjects in this

study were young adults (18 years – 25 years) and

domiciled in Padang. Look Table 1 for a description

of the participants in this study.

Table 1: Gender (N=160).

N %

Gender

Male 39 24,4 %

Female 121 75,6 %

Data collection uses a multidimensional health

locus of control scale form A and the Morisky

compliance scale which has been modified according

to this study. Both scales have been tested for validity

and reliability. The multidimensional health locus of

control scale form A contains 17 valid items with a

correlation coefficient of 0.811. Meanwhile, for the

Morisky 10-item compliance scale, all of them are

declared valid with a correlation coefficient of 0.765.

The research data obtained were then analyzed

using the SPSS Statistics 17.0 for Windows program.

Furthermore, spearman’s rank correlation analysis

was used to test the research hypotheses.

3 RESULTS

Based on the results of the study, the health locus of

control was in very high category. The perception

level of the subject's health control is good.

Meanwhile, adherence is in the medium category.

The following is the result of processing variable

categorization data. Based on table 2, it can be seen

that in the very low category there are 4 subjects

(2.5%). The low category contained 21 subjects

(13,1%). Category while there are 24 subjects (15%).

The high category contains 42 subjects (26.3%). Very

high category there are 69 subjects (43.1%).

Table 2: Health Locus of Control Score Categorization

(N=160).

Aspect Category F (%)

Internal Very low

Low

Medium

High

Very high

100

1,9%

7,5%

15,6%

12,5%

62,5%

Total 160 100%

Chance Very low

Low

Medium

High

Ver

3,8%

9,4%

22,5%

26,9%

35%

Total 160 100%

Powerful

other

Very low

Low

Medium

High

Very high

8,1%

14,4%

18,8%

53,4%

Total 160 100%

Based on table 3, it can be seen that in the very

low category there are 9 subjects (5.6%). The low

category contains 39 subjects (24.4%). In the medium

category there were 45 subjects (28,1%). In the high

category there were 34 subjects (21.3%). Very high

category there are 33 subjects (20.6%).

Table 3: Adherence to health protocol Score Categorization

(N=160).

Aspect Category F (%)

forgetfulness

frequency

Very low

Low

Medium

High

Very high

10%

12,5%

25%

27,5%

Total 160 100%

Not applying

Very low

Low

Medium

13,1%

19,4%

26,3%

Icometh 2021 - International Conference of Mental Health

High

Very high

18,1%

23,1%

Total 160 100%

Stop obeying

Very low

Low

Medium

High

Ver

2,5%

11,9%

21,9%

18,1%

45%

Total 160 100%

Distracted by

schedule

Very low

Low

Medium

High

Ver

26,3%

25%

7,5%

9,4%

31,9%

Total 160 100%

This study also conducted prerequisite tests

before hypothesis testing, such as normality tests and

linearity tests. The results of the normality test on the

health locus of control variable were 1.71 and

p=0.006 (p<0.05), which indicated that the data were

not normally distributed. Meanwhile, the Compliance

variable in Implementing the Covid-19 Health

Protocol has a value of K-SZ = 1.09 and p = 0.184

>(p 0.05) which indicates that the data is normally

distributed. Meanwhile, for the linearity test, F =

25.85 and p =0.000. That is, the linearity in this study

is met.

The results of the correlation between health locus

of control and adherence in implementing health

protocols obtained a correlation coefficient (r) = 3.72

and p value = 0.000 (p <0.05). The results of this

study indicate that there is a significant relationship

between health locus of control and adherence in

implementing health protocols. Therefore, it can be

concluded that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted.

This study also conducted an additional test,

namely a different test. Different tests were

conducted to find out the differences between men

and women in complying with health protocol rules.

The different test used in this study was Mann-

Whitney U. The results of the different test showed

that there was no significant difference between men

and women in adherence with the health protocol

rules with p value = 0.181 (p> 0.05).

Table 4: Different test.

Gender Mean P

Description

Male 89,13

0,181

Not significant

Female 77,72

Measurement of health locus of control was

adapted based on aspects of health locus of control,

namely internal, chance, and powerful other

(Wallston et al., 1978). Based on the results of the

analysis, it was found that the subject had a very high

level of health locus of control. Overall aspects are in

the very high category with internal aspects having

the highest category This indicates that the subjects in

this study have health perceptions that tend to be

influenced by themselves (internal).

4 DISCUSSIONS

This research aims to determine the relationship

between health locus of control and adherence to

health protocols. Based on the study results, it was

found that there is a significant relationship between

health locus of control and adherence to health

protocols. Health locus of control is in the very high

category and adherence to health protocols is in

medium category.

According to Helmer, Krämer, & Mikolajczyk

(2012) stated that individuals with high internal

health locus of control tend to be more concerned

about their health. Grotz, Hapke, Lampert, &

Baumeister (2011) show that people who have a high

internal health locus of control do more health-related

activities. In addition, Cheng, Cheung, & Lo (2016)

also found that there was a relationship between

internal health locus of control with self-health

evaluation and healthy living behaviors, such as the

quality of mental health, exercise, and diet.

The measurement of adherence to the health

protocol was modified from the aspects of

compliance, namely the frequency of forgetting, not

applying, stopping to comply, and being disturbed by

the schedule. Based on the results of the analysis, it

was found that the subject had a moderate level of

adherence to the health protocol. All aspects are in the

very high category except for the non-implementing

aspect which is in the medium category.

According to Nivette et al. (2021) many factors

make people stop obeying the rules, such as low self-

control, inconsistent policies, and others. Hills &

Eraso (2021) A person who does not comply with the

rules is more susceptible to the Covid-19 virus.

This study also conducted a different test to

determine the difference between men and women in

complying with health protocols. Based on the results

of the different tests, there were no significant

differences between men and women in complying

with the health protocol rules with p = 0.181. This

The Relationship between Health Locus of Control and Individual Adherence to Health Protocols

shows that both men and women tend to have the

same level of compliance.

The results of this study are in accordance with

previous research by Guzek, Skolmowska, & Głabska

(2020) which showed that there were no significant

differences between men and women in complying

with COVID-19 rules, such as wearing masks and

staying at home. Research conducted by Masters et

al. (2020) also shows that there is no significant

gender difference in complying with the Covid-19

rules, namely social distancing.

Based on the explanation above, it can be

concluded that health locus of control is related to

individual compliance. Especially in this study,

namely individual compliance with health protocols.

That is, the psychological factor of health locus of

control has a positive effect on individuals in

complying with the rules of the health protocols.

5 CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of research and hypothesis

testing, it can be concluded as follows: There is a

significant relationship between health locus of

control and individual compliance in implementing

the COVID-19 health protocols, health locus of

control in young adults is in the very high category.

This shows that young adults have a good perception

of health, the adherence of young adults in

implementing the COVID-19 health protocols is in

the moderate category, and there is no significant

difference between women and men in complying

with the Covid-19 health protocols.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank Mr. Rinaldi and Mr.

Free Dirga D. for their critics, suggestions,

improvements, and input during the research, to all

participants who have been taken the time to help and

join in this research, and to the other parties who

helped this research.

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The Relationship between Health Locus of Control and Individual Adherence to Health Protocols