ON THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL STRESS INDICATOR

This study explored the reliability and validity of the Locus of Control scale of the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI-LOC). The internal consistencies of OSI-LOC and its subscales were found to be moderate, as previously reported. Correlations of OSI-LOC scales with the Spheres of Control scales were examined. These correlations suggested that the OSI-LOC covers several spheres of control (personal, interpersonal, sociopolitical) without clearly discriminating between them. Confirmatory factor analyses of the OSI-LOC item covariances were conducted using LISREL. A single-factor model (all items loading on one factor) did not provide a good fit to the data. Nor did a three-factor formulation. A two-factor model did provide a good fit. These factors were tentatively labelled Powerful Others Control and Internal Control, after Levenson's distinction between agents of control. It is suggested that development of the OSI-LOC could follow one of several lines of thinking.