OBJECTIVES: The determinants of utilities for health are largely unknown.  The psychosocial construct Locus of control (LOC) describes the extent to which individuals feel their health is determined by their actions, by a powerful external figure, or by chance. LOC is associated with health-related quality of life among cancer patients but its impact on utilities has not been examined.  The objective was to estimate the effect of LOC on utilities for head and neck cancer (HNC) health states among Canadians without cancer. METHODS: A convenience sample of respondents without cancer was recruited according to the age- and sex-distribution of Canada in Vancouver and Toronto.  Standard gamble utilities were elicited for health states describing HNC stage and type.  Standardized health state descriptions were based on literature review, trial data, and feedback from clinicians experienced in HNC treatment and quality-of-life researchers.  Respondents completed the validated Multidimensional Health LOC scale. Mixed regression models were used to determine associations between interval locus of control scores and utilities, adjusting for demographic variables, HNC stage and type. RESULTS: : Utility values were elicited from 101 respondents with a mean age of 47 years (48% male).   Mean utilities were:  0.62 for locoregional laryngeal, 0.61 for locoregional non-laryngeal, 0.57 for recurrent non-laryngeal, 0.56 for recurrent laryngeal, 0.52 for metastatic non-laryngeal, 0.50 for metastatic laryngeal, and 0.34 for post-progression, HNC. There was suggestive evidence that LOC was associated with utilities (P = 0.079). Respondents who had a dominant Chance LOC rated health states significant lower (P=0.012): for every one unit increase on the Chance subscale, there was a decrement of 0.011 in mean utility value. CONCLUSIONS:  This evidence indicates that LOC is a determinant of utilities for head and neck cancer health states.   Replicating these findings in other populations and diseases would shed insight into the psychosocial determinants of preferences.