Volume 30, Issue 2, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.4050
Perceived Stress, Positive Psychological Capital, Locus of Control: An Application on Higher Education Students
Abstract
Objective: In recent years, stress has become the source of psychological problems at a
global level, and studies have focused on the detection and control of stress. In this
study, the relationship between perceived stress levels and positive psychological capital
and locus of control of higher education students in Turkey were discussed. Methods:
The sample included 497 individuals who continue to higher education in Rize,
Turkey. 18293 students who continue their higher education at various
levels constitute the universe, and all students were provided with the opportunity to be
represented in the sample using the random sampling method. Data were
collected between March and June 2018. Sociodemographic Information Form,
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Positive Psychological Capital Scale (PSS), Locus of Control
Scale (SDS) were used to collect data. The research, which has a nature of practice, is a
quantitative study using techniques related to the descriptive scanning model. The
internal consistency coefficient of the Perceived Stress Scale was 0.672, the internal
consistency coefficient for the Locus of Control Scale was 0.856, and the internal
consistency coefficient for the Positive Psychological Capital Scale was 0.924. The
relationship between the Perceived Stress Scale, Locus of Control Scale and Positive
Psychological Capital Scale was examined with the Spearman test. The Structural
Equation Model (SEM) was used to determine whether the Perceived Stress and Locus of
Control scales predicted the Positive Psychological Capital Scale. Results: According to
the results of the study, as the scores of the participants according to the perceived
stress scale increase, scores of general locus of control and the scores obtained from the
sub-dimensions, which are personal control, belief in chance and fatalism increases. It
was found that a significant and negative correlation was observed with the positive
psychological capital scale and its sub-dimensions, and self-efficacy, trust, extraversion,
psychological resilience, and hope scores of sub-dimensions decreased (p<0,05, p<0,01).
Conclusion: According to the study, it was found that perceived stress decreases the
positive psychological capital of students, and locus of control does not have a direct
effect on positive psychological capital but increases perceived stress.
Keywords
Perceived Stress, Locus of Control, Positive Psychological Capital, Higher Education Students