did occur, but they were not related to locus of control. In the area

of psychological health Strickland reports that internals "are

significantly more likely to report themselves as content with their

life situations than externals" (p. 1200). Participants in a fitness

program tested by O'Connell and Price (1982) were also more likely to be

internals.

 A study on locus of control and response to dental surgery

(Auerbach, Kendall, Cutler, & Levitt, 1976) found that internal subjects

who were given specific information about the surgery responded better

than internals given general information. Conversely, external subjects

responded more favorably to general information. Clum, Scott, and

Burnside (1979) studied patients having elective cholycystectomies.

They reported that the amount of information internal patients had about

the surgery was related to the number of analgesics taken and their

present pain index with the greater amount of information resulting in

an increase in these outcome measures. Externals, however, only had an

increase in the present pain index with increased information. Another

study on cholycystectomy patients (Wise, Hall, & Wong, 1978) found

externals were more depressed but used no more medication than

internals.

 As stated above, the construct of locus of control is still under

investigation. If the construct is valid, internals are probably better

prepared to cope with matters pertaining to their health.