Health-Related Behavior, Profile of Health Locus of Control and Acceptance of Illness in Patients Suffering from Chronic Somatic Diseases

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to determine health-related behaviors, profile of health locus of control (HLC), and to assess the relationships between these constructs among patients suffering from chronic somatic diseases.Material and MethodsThree-hundred adult patients suffering from various chronic diseases participated in the study. The patients' mean age was 54.6 years (SD = 17.57).ResultsNo statistically significant differences were found between the different clinical groups in health-related behavior, acceptance of illness, internal HLC or chance HLC. Patients with neurologic conditions showed slightly lower powerful others HLC than did some other clinical groups. Health-related behavior was significantly positively related to all three categories of HLC, with most prominent associations observed with powerful others HLC. Only one type of health-related behavior – preventive behavior – correlated significantly and negatively with acceptance of illness. Differences in the frequency of health-related behavior were also found due to gender (women showing more healthy nutritional habits than men), age (older subjects showing more frequent health-promoting behavior), education (higher education was associated with less frequent health-promoting behavior) and marital status (widowed subjects reporting more frequent health-promoting behavior).ConclusionsHealth-related behavior in patients with chronic diseases seems to be unrelated to a specific diagnosis; however it shows associations with both internal and external HLC. Sociodemographic factors are also crucial factors determining frequency of health-related behavior in such patients.

Adjustment to Life with Lung Cancer

“…Studies by Z. Juczyński reveal that higher acceptance is attributed to diabetic patients, dialyzed males, multiple sclerosis females, women diagnosed with migraine, breast and uterine carcinoma [30], and chronically ill patients, as proved by the studies by B. J. Felton et al [31]. Our studies do not confirm that there are statistically significant correlations between the level of disease acceptance and socioeconomic variables.…”

The belief of control and engagement in health related behaviours in the groups of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and excess body weight

“…Similar results were obtained by Janowski et al [1] -in their study patient groups also did not differ in terms of the intensity of health-related behaviours. The analysis of the results obtained in the IZZ questionnaire indicates that young people with excess body weight focus the most on proper consumption habits, and the ones with diabetes on positive mental attitudes, preventive behaviours and health-related practices.…”

“…However, as emphasized by Morowatisharifabad et al [9], their low prediction for internal control suggests that other psychological variables undoubtedly play an important role. And, in the studies conducted by Janowski et al [1], not only the internal but also the external locus of control correlated with engagement in health-related behaviours. It should be noted, however, that the cited study used a method for analysing the health locus of control.…”

“…Comprehensive treatment of chronic diseases requires lifestyle changes and the introduction of new health behaviours [1,2]. In the treatment of type 1 diabetes, as well as in activities aimed at reducing excess body weight, health-related recommendations are associated first of all with diet and regular exercises.…”

“…One such factor is the locus of control [9][10][11][12]. The locus of control, understood as one of the dimensions of human personality, refers to the way in which individuals perceive the causality of the correlation between their own behaviours and their consequences [1,7,9,[13][14][15][16]. The detailed scope of the locus of control has also been developed on the basis of health psychology, relating directly to the health, or health locus of control, which explains how the location of control affects the activities of human health.…”