Sponsor
This research was supported by grants, 5 R24 HD042849 and 5 T32 HD007081, awarded to the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Child Development.
Document Type
Post-Print
Publication Date
2014
Subjects
Adolescence, Education -- Social aspects -- United States, Inequality
Abstract
People with internal rather than external locus of control experience better outcomes in multiple domains. Previous studies on spatial differences in control within America only focused on the South, relied on aggregate level data or historical evidence, or did not account for other confounding regional distinctions (such as variation in urbanicity). Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study, we find differences in adolescents' loci of control depending on their region and urbanicity are largely attributable to differences in their social background, and only minimally to structural differences (i.e., differences in the qualities of adolescents' schools). Differences that persist net of differences across adolescents and their schools suggest the less internal control of rural Southern adolescents, and the more internal control of rural and urban Northeastern adolescents, may be due to cultural distinctions in those areas. Results indicate region is more closely associated than urbanicity with differences in locus of control, with Western and Northeastern cultures seemingly fostering more internal control than Midwestern and Southern cultures. These findings contribute to research on spatial variation in a variety of psychological traits.
Locate the Document
Final published version is available: https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12046
DOI
10.1111/soin.12046
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26225
Citation Details
Shifrer, Dara and Sutton, April, "Region-Urbanicity Differences in Locus of Control: Social Disadvantage, Structure, or Cultural Exceptionalism?" (2014). Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations. 86.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26225
Description
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Sociological Inquiry. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Sociological Inquiry. 2014 November 1; 84(4): 570–600.
*At the time of publication Dara Shifrer was affiliated with Rice University