RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCUS OF CONTROL BELIEFS AND METABOLIC CONTROL IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Objectives. To examine the relationship between diabetes-specific heal th locus of control patterns and metabolic control (HbA1C). The validi ty and reliability of the Diabetes Locus of Control Scale (DLOC) used were also examined. Methods. Study participants were 312 consecutive a dult Swedish out-patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (ID DM). The participants completed the DLOC at their regular clinic visit and data on metabolic control (HbA1C) and background factors were gat hered. Results. The Diabetes Locus of Control Scale was found to have adequate psychometric properties. Participants with strong beliefs tha t their own behaviour is responsible for the course of the disease and weak beliefs in chance and luck were metabolically better regulated t han participants who exhibited other health locus of control patterns. Conclusions. The diabetes locus of control patterns examined appear t o have explanatory power in accounting for metabolic control. The data suggest that, in planning treatment of IDDM patients, clinicians coul d make use of knowledge concerning the patients' health locus of contr ol patterns.