Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relation between locus of control and problem solving skills in midwifery students. METHODS: The study was planned as a descriptive design and included 195 students studying in a midwifery department of a health school in the academic year of 2011 and 2012 and accepting to participate in the study. Data were collected with a personal characteristics form, developed by the researchers, Locus of Control Scale and Problem Solving Scale and obtained data were analyzed with ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 21.04±2.27 years. Sixty-three point six percent of the students had an income equal to expenses, 49.2% lived with a roommate, 73.8% were graduates of state high schools, 44.1% lived in a city the longest, 37.4% had two siblings, 90.8% had a nuclear family and 62.6% were willing to study midwifery. The mean scores for Locus of Control Scale did not significantly differ between the students having different periods of education (F=.771; p=.512), but the difference in the mean scores for Problem Solving Scale was significant (F= 4.981; p=.002). Correlation analyses did not show a significant relation between the scores for locus of control and the mean scores for problem solving skills (r =.116, p =.107). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that locus of control was not associated with problem solving skills among midwifery students but that problem solving skills improved as duration of education increased. It can be recommended that tasks and activities directed to improve problem solving skills and locus of control should be incorporated into curricula for midwifery.

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