Coping as a mediator between locus of control, competence beliefs, and mental health: A systematic review and structural equation modelling meta-analysis.

•This meta-analysis evaluated coping as a mediator between locus of control as well as competence beliefs and mental health.•Maladaptive but not adaptive coping mediated the associations between maladaptive locus of control and poor mental health.•Maladaptive locus of control should be improved in order to diminish maladaptive coping and thereby improve mental health.