Incremental Contributions of Sense of Belonging above and beyond Locus of Control in Subjective Wellbeing among Undergraduates

Abstract

Cases of depression and suicide have been on the rise in recent times and there is a need for researchers to look at those factors that might positively or negatively influence the health and subjective wellbeing of individuals. The present cross-sectional study aims to investigate the roles of locus of control and sense of belonging in subjective wellbeing among male and female undergraduates of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria. A total of 216 participants (53% males and 47% females) ranging from 17 to 24 years old completed the self-report surveys to assess each construct. They completed a questionnaire form consisting of the Locus of Control Behaviour Scale (LOCBS), the Sense of Belonging Instrument –Psychological State subscale (SOBI-P), and the Subjective Wellbeing Scale (Flourishing Scale, FS). Hierarchical Linear Regression was used in testing the hypotheses. Results showed that both locus of control and sense of belonging predicted the subjective wellbeing of participants. Implications from this study suggest that locus of control and sense of belonging play significant roles in the predictive relationship between the constructs and subjective wellbeing. It is recommended that special efforts which increase a sense of belonging need to be emphasized more in orientation and motivational programs and students’ outreach efforts.