Health locus of control and quality of life in diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important global health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of self-efficacy, health locus of control, demographic and clinical predictors on the level of quality of life among patients with type 2 DM as well as to explore the association between these variables. Methods: A community sample of 50 DM out clinic patients completed the Greek versions of the Missoula VITAS Quality of Life Index, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale and a questionnaire with demographic and clinical characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. The statistical significance level was set up at 0.05. Results : There was a statistically significant correlation between self-efficacy and total quality of life score (r=0.34, p< 0.05) and its dimensions “Interpersonal” (r=0.391, p<0.01) and “Transcendent” (r=0.362, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant correlation between the Health Locus of Control and quality of life. Significant but moderate correlations were found between the total score of quality of life and education (r=0.307, p<0.05), the total score of quality of life and height (r=0.34, p<0.05). Conclusions: Self-efficacy and type of treatment were among the predictors of quality of life. The more the self-efficacy increases, the more the quality of life and some of its dimensions increase. Health Locus of Control may not be associated with quality of life.