Control Beliefs pertain to:

• A. Beliefs about internal and external factors that may inhibit or facilitate performance
• B. Beliefs about threat of illness
• C. Beliefs about others' expectations
• D. Beliefs about the cost of action

Answer: (A)

Control beliefs are beliefs about factors that may hinder or help someone perform a behavior, covering both internal factors such as energy, skills, and confidence, and external factors like time, resources, and the environment. These beliefs shape a person’s sense of control over the action, which influences whether they intend to act, how much effort they invest, and how long they persist. In nursing across the lifespan, understanding a patient’s control beliefs helps you identify what might block or enable adherence to a plan and tailor interventions—addressing gaps in skills, boosting motivation, or modifying the environment to enhance perceived control. The other ideas refer to different constructs: beliefs about threat of illness relate to how vulnerable or severe one thinks illness is; beliefs about others’ expectations involve social norms and pressures; beliefs about the cost of action focus on the perceived effort or resources required, which is related but does not capture the broader sense of control over performing the behavior.