Locus of Control and Adjustment to Chronic Hemodialysis

Abstract

The Rotter Inventory was used to assess external vs. internal locus of control in chronic hemodialysis patients. This measure of personality was correlated to psychological and physiologic measures of adaptation to hemodialysis. Patients with high external locus of control had poorer overall compliance with higher interdialytic weight gain, but did not show more psychological distress. Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation correlated negatively with mean K, mean P, Beck Depression rating, and duration of dialysis.