Health locus of control in patients with type 1 diabetes and health behaviours

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Adaptation to chronic somatic disease depends on many predictors. One of them is belief of health locus of control, but another are health behaviours. Aim of study: what is correlation between health locus of control and health behaviours in patients with type 1 diabetes and what kind of relation is between health locus of control and health behaviours with their gender, age, and duration of be a sick?
MATERIAL AND METHODS. It was applying three methods: Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale by K.A. Wallston, B.S. Wallston and R. DeVellis, Inventory of and Health Behaviours by Z. Juczyński and a personal questionnaire. Two groups participated in this investigation: 126 patients with type 1 diabetes and 126 healthy peoples.
RESULTS. Individuals with diabetes of type 1 more often then healthy people locus of helath control in other people. Gender and age have a relationship with health locus of control and healthy behaviours. Duration of be a sick do not correlate with them.
CONCLUSIONS. Research results show that sick persons and those, who are less sure that they are able to control their health, present higher tendency to act healthfully. Healthy persons and those, who are sure that they control their health, are less likely to act in a healthful way. (Diabet. Prakt. 2011; 12, 4: 151–159)