Delay in Seeking Prescription Contraception and the Health Lifestyle and Health Locus of Control of Young Women

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Abstract
This pilot project examined the relationship of two variables—health lifestyle and health locus of control—to the length of delay between initial coitus and the solicitation of prescription contraception. Participants were 61 young adult, single, female clients of a family planning clinic, seeking prescription contraception for the first time, who had previous and planned coitus, and who had never sought professional contraceptive advice. A self-report questionnaire was used. The Pearson product-moment correlation, t-test, and multiple linear regression tests were used to test four hypotheses. Overall health lifestyle and locus of control were found not to be related to delay in seeking prescription contraception. Significance (p < = .05) was established for three health components: safety, exercise/fitness, and stress control. Subjects reporting the optimal safety practices delayed the shortest amount of time, with those having the optimal exercise/fitness and stress control behaviors delaying the longest. The results do not support addressing students' health locus of control as an effective health education strategy for minimizing contraceptive risk-taking.