Abstract (eng)
Numerous influencing factors of internal or external nature can promote or hinder the claiming of psychological help. Internal factors refer to the individual and specific personality traits, coping strategies and expectations, which include locus of control. Using a questionnaire battery within a structured interview, institutional and familial abuse experiences (physical, sexual, emotional) were measured retrospectively, and their influence on help-seeking behavior and locus of control was examined. Furthermore, the influence of locus of control on help-seeking behavior was clarified. These investigations included comparisons between a group of affected persons (abused persons) and a control group (not abused persons). Also gender-specific differences and the impact of the number of experienced forms of abuse (within the group of affected persons) were linked to the examined constructs. In the current study, women show stronger help-seeking behavior than men. Furthermore, a higher expression of internal locus of control goes along with stronger help-seeking behavior and a higher expression of external locus of control goes along with lower help-seeking behavior. The non-significant results related to internal locus of control while comparing the groups, were explained by guilt and shame feelings. Subsequently, an influence of locus of control on mental health is assumed. Abused persons show moreover lower help-seeking behavior and a higher expression of external locus of control than not abused persons. A higher number of experienced forms of abuse is associated with a higher expression of external locus of control. In future research, other experiences of abuse could also be considered. Concluding, the relevance of a two-dimensional and situation dependent definition of locus of control, which considers past and future events, is discussed.