Structure and Correlates of Diabetes-Specific Locus of Control

Mark Peyrot; Richard R Rubin

doi:10.2337/diacare.17.9.994

Original Articles

Structure and Correlates of Diabetes-Specific Locus of Control

Mark Peyrot, PHD and
Richard R Rubin, PHD

Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland
Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland
Loyola College Center for Social and Community Research Baltimore, Maryland

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Mark Peyrot, PhD, Loyola College, 4501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210-2699.

Diabetes Care 1994 Sep; 17(9): 994-1001. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.17.9.994

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To examine the structure and correlates of diabetes-specific locus of control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Study participants were 165 adult patients from a comprehensive outpatient diabetes education program who completed a research protocol at the outset of the program. The protocol included measures of diabetes locus of control (DLC), glycemie control, self-care behavior, and emotional well-being.

RESULTS Scales measuring internal and powerful other DLC each had two components. One component of internal DLC, autonomy, was significantly associated with positive outcomes, and the other component, self-blame, was related to negative outcomes. The two components of powerful other DLC were differently correlated with various aspects of strict regimen adherence, and chance DLC was associated with a variety of measures reflecting a pattern of dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS The concept of DLC appears to have explanatory power in accounting for health outcomes, especially when internal DLC measures of autonomy and self-blame are differentiated. It is important to find educational interventions that work effectively with patients who believe that health outcomes are controlled by chance, because they seem to be at special risk for health-related problems.