Relationships between Locus of Control and Adherence to Diabetes Regimen

Abstract Background: Adequate self-care in diabetes causes quality of life promotion and decreases the num-ber of inpatient cases. The health locus of control theory is used to assess adherence to diabetes regi-men in some studies in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of diabe tes locus of control in a sample of diabetic patients in Iran and investigation of itʹs relationship to adher ence to diabetes regimen. Methods: This analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 patients referred to Yazd Diabe tes Research Center. The Iranian versions of Diabetes Locus of Control scale and Diabetes Self-care Activities scale were used for data collection. Results: Men were more internal locus of control and women were more chance locus of control. The attri butions of external locus of control increased by age, while the internal locus of control increased by education level and chance locus of control decreased by education level. A positive association be tween internal locus of control and adherence to diabetes regimen was found and there was a negative asso ciation between chance locus of control and adherence to diabetes regimen. Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving internal locus of control may im-prove adherence to diabetes regimen but different diabetic patients have different attribution styles and inter ventional programs to enhance diabetes self-care will be more successful if patient’s locus of con trol is addressed.