Age differences in locus of control and self-monitoring in China

Locus of control and self-monitoring were measured in three age groups in Changchun, northeastern China: 164 junior high school students (12-15 yr.), 121 college students (16-26 yr.), and 46 adults (29-57 yr.). Analysis indicated that adults and college students scored higher on locus of control (Ms=10.0 and 9.2, scores indicating the number of external control beliefs affirmed) than high school students (M=6.1) and that adults scored lower on self-monitoring (M=8.7) than college and high school students (Ms=11.6 and 10.6). Such differences seem attributable to the interaction between individual development and some societal factors that are believed to foster external control beliefs and propensity to self-monitoring.