THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCUS OF CONTROL, TINNITUS SEVERITY, AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN A GROUP OF TINNITUS SUFFERERS

One hundred and nine tinnitus sufferers attending a specialist out-pat ient clinic completed questionnaires assessing the following: locus of control of behaviour, anxiety (STAI), depression (BDI) and tinnitus s everity. Anxiety and depression were found to be correlated with tinni tus severity, as was locus of control, with ''internals'' reporting th eir tinnitus to be less severe than ''externals.'' Partial correlation s indicated that locus of control did not directly affect tinnitus sev erity, but rather, this effect was mediated by the effect of locus of control on anxiety and depression.