It has been identified that practicing a variety of different health habits as a child is associated with optimistic beliefs in the controllability of health, both for beliefs in the efficacy of self-care and of doctors. Reinforcement theory easily explains why this might be the case. Nurturing parents are likely to be attentive to their children's behavior and prepared to respond to the child's actions with reinforcers to encourage the practice of good health habits and discourage poor ones. Yet, it is not only parents that must be aware of their influence on the establishment of children's health beliefs. He implies that peers, teachers, and mass media are other important factors that influence health beliefs.
Socioeconomic status is another variable that has been shown to correlate with locus of control.
Data suggests that early health habits are more prevalent in higher SES families, where regular visits to medical professionals for checkups and vaccinations are most likely only minor financial considerations. Lau concludes that it is particularly important for health professionals in contact with lower SES families to stress the wide-ranging importance of practicing good health habits. These habits are not only important in and of themselves, but they also provide the basis for beliefs that influence life-long health behaviors. Nevertheless, this recommendation may be overly simplistic in its assumption that lower SES families are able to come in contact with health professionals. Prior experiences with sickness and health contribute to health locus of control beliefs as well.