The relationship between cardiovascular-disease Locus of Control and Quality of Life

This study explored the various demographic and clinical determinants of the Quality of Life of patients with Coronary Heart Disease. It also sought to define how Locus of Control affects Quality of life in these patients. The MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life (MacNew) Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Health related Locus of Control Questionnaire (MHLC) were administered to a cohort of 61 patients with established Coronary Artery Disease in an outpatient setting, months to years from their initial diagnosis. This study used a crosstabs procedure for all comparisons. This study found that Quality of Life across all domains (emotional, physical and social) was high in about 75% of the study subjects across all treatment groups. This study also examined the interaction of Locus of Control with Quality of Life within each subgroup. A significant positive correlation between higher Quality of Life and high Internal and Doctors Locus of Control traits was found in the total sample as well as in the demographic subgroups of married patients, patients who were diagnosed less than two years from study date, and patients with college degree or higher education. On the other hand, the total sample did not yield any significant interaction between Quality of Life levels and Chance or Other People's Locus of Control. In addition, divorcees who scored significantly higher on External Locus of Control had significantly higher Quality of Life overall domains. Patients with high school degree or lower who scored significantly higher in Chance Locus of Control had a significantly lower Quality of Life. There was no effect of Gender, age, Treatment Type on the interaction between Locus of Control and Quality of Life. In conclusion, the underlying adjustment process is predicated upon a complex interaction between Locus of Control traits, the myriad components of a patient's demographic profile and their clinical characteristics.