The Predictive Power of Locus of Control on the Psychological Well-being of Youth of Dumka, Jharkhand, India

Description

Page: 511-516

Manoj Kumar Mallick (Department of Psychology, Shikaripara Mahavidyalaya, Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka, Jharkhand)

Present-day youth navigate a period of significant psychological challenges, yet the interplay of personality constructs and mental health remains underexplored in non-Western, rural contexts. This study investigates the role of locus of control as a predictor of psychological well-being, as defined by Carol Ryff’s six-dimensional model, among the youth of Dumka district, Jharkhand. The core problem this research addresses is the knowledge gap concerning how universal psychological theories manifest in diverse socio-cultural settings, which limits the development of culturally appropriate mental health interventions. This paper, focusing on the primary hypothesis of a broader study, aims to determine if an internal locus of control positively predicts psychological well-being in this specific demographic. The research employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design with a sample of 500 youths aged 22 to 36. Data were collected using self-constructed scales for Locus of Control and Psychological Well-being, theoretically grounded in the works of Rotter and Ryff, respectively, and previously developed in Mallick (2025). Statistical analysis involved Pearson correlation and simple linear regression. Results revealed a strong, positive, and highly significant correlation between an internal locus of control and aggregate psychological well-being (r = .855, p < .001). Furthermore, regression analysis demonstrated that locus of control is a powerful predictor, accounting for 73% of the variance in psychological well-being (R2 = 0.730, F(1,498) = 1346.99, p < .001). The findings confirm that youth who believe they have control over their lives report substantially higher well-being. This shows it’s vital to help young people feel they have control over their own lives. Therefore, actions that strengthen their belief that they are responsible for their own success would be a very effective way to improve the psychological well-being of youth in this specific area.