The Mediating Role of Women’s Work Attitudes in the Association Between Locus of Control and Employment Status

Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals attribute their outcomes to their own actions versus external forces (Rotter, 1954). Individuals with an internal locus of control orientation tend to believe that their outcomes result from their own accord, whereas those with an external locus of control orientation tend to attribute their outcomes to forces beyond their control. In economics, research has shown that women with a more internal locus of control are more likely to be employed (Hennecke, 2022). One potential mechanism underlying this association is that women who believe that they have control over their outcomes may be more likely to invest in and pursue future aspirations. In fact, prior work has shown that women with a more internal locus of control place greater importance on career development and endorse more liberal attitudes toward women’s roles, such as the belief that women’s roles extend beyond household labor and childcare (Marecek & Frasch, 1977). Despite this intuitive link, no prior research has examined whether the association between women’s locus of control and employment status is mediated by attitudes toward women’s place in the workforce. Moreover, given the substantial societal changes that took place since the 1970s, particularly the women’s movement and the resulting increase in women’s participation in the workforce, the association between women’s work attitudes and employment status may vary by age. Therefore, the present study examines the associations among locus of control, women’s work attitudes, and employment status, as well as whether these associations vary by age.