Stepping motor control device, movement, timepiece, and stepping motor control method

A stepping motor control device comprising:

• a stepping motor comprising a coil that is energized by a driving pulse to rotate a rotor that rotates a hand;
• a control unit configured to output the driving pulse and a swinging pulse for swinging the rotor to the stepping motor in such a manner that the swinging pulse precedes the driving pulse without a replicated swinging pulse having a voltage and a polarity of the swinging pulse applied between the swinging pulse and the driving pulse;
• a voltage detecting unit configured to detect an induced voltage generated in the coil by swinging of the rotor caused by application of the swinging pulse to the stepping motor;
• and
• a determining unit configured to determine a mechanical load received by the rotor, based on the induced voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit.