Health locus of control and HIV+ individuals with peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

Eighty-five men (n = 60) and women (n = 25) diagnosed with HIV-related peripheral neuropathy completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLOC), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Global Severity Index (GSI), and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). It was hypothesized that: (1) there would be a significant negative relationship between Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLOC) and perceived pain intensity and perceived interference of pain with daily activities; (2) there would be a significant negative relationship between IHLOC and measured global symptom severity and depression; (3) there would be significant positive relationships between Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLOC) and maladaptive coping mechanisms; and (4) there would be significant positive relationships between IHLOC and adaptive coping mechanisms.;Contrary to expectation, scores on IHLOC were not related negatively to BPI self-ratings of pain intensity or pain interference. In fact, Pearson correlations indicated that IHLOC was related positively to two BPI subscales: (1) patient self-ratings of the severity of the least pain they experienced during the past week; and (2) patient self-ratings of the severity of their present pain. Also contrary to expectation, IHLOC was not related significantly to either the BDI or to the GSI.;As expected, scores on CHLOC were related positively to the use of the maladaptive coping strategies of praying/hoping and catastrophizing. Also as expected, IHLOC was related positively to several dimensions of adaptive active coping strategies, including diverting attention, reinterpreting pain sensations, and ignoring pain sensations.;Implications for the theory of health locus of control and for clinical practice were explored.