TITLE:
Correlates of Health Locus of Control among Patients Diagnosed with Type-II Diabetes Mellitus
AUTHORS:
Dina N. Al Nawafa’h, Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour
KEYWORDS:
Health Locus of Control, Internality, Externality, DM
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Diabetes Mellitus,
Vol.5 No.3,
August
21,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: The comorbidity between chronic physical conditions and
psychosocial health became common interest for health professional and
researchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship
among health locus of control, self efficacy, and demographic factors in
patients with type-II diabetes mellitus. Method: Data were collected using
cross-sectional, correaltional design from
793 patients with type-II diabetes in regards to health locus of control (HLOC)
self-efficacy, and biomarkers. Results: The mean score for the internal
subscale of HLOC was 27.2 (SD = 6.32), for the powerful others subscale of HLOC
it was 30.9 (SD = 5.7), and for chance subscale of HLOC it was 18.6 (SD = 6.8).
The mean total score of locus of control scale was 76.8 (SD = 13.1) ranging
from 19 to 132. The mean score of HbA1C was 7.5 (SD = 2.6). Patients had
moderate to high perception of powerful other health locus of control, and self
efficacy. Results also showed that locus of control had positive and
significant correlation with self efficacy (r = 0.18, p > 0.01) and negative
relationship with HbA1C (r = -0.11,
p > 0.01). On the other hand, age has no significant correlation with health
locus of control. Conclusion: Health care professionals need to enhance patient’s self-efficacy and internal power
of their patients for better health outcomes. Nurses and other health
professionals need to emphasize the psychosocial health aspects of patients
with chronic illnesses, and in particular, those diagnosed with type-II
diabetes mellitus.