Iranian Journal of

Background: Health locus of control is an important variable in diabetes. The aims of the present study were to investigate the role of health locus of control in predicting psychosocial adjustment to illness and compare psychosocial adjustment to illness and dimensions of health locus of control among male and female type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients were recruited via convenience sampling method from type 2 diabetic patients who were referred to the Shahid Motahari diabetes clinic in Shiraz. The participants filled Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) and Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS).

Results: The results indicated that there were significant positive correlations between psychosocial adjustment to illness and internal health locus of control (r= .30,   P &le .001) and God health locus of control (r= .18,   P &le .05). Internal health locus of control (&beta= .28,   P &le .01) significantly predicted psychosocial adjustment to illness. There were significant differences between male and female diabetic patients on the basis of chance health locus of control. Female patients got higher scores on chance health locus of control. Moreover, there were no significant differences between male and female diabetic patients on the basis of psychosocial adjustment to illness.

Conclusion: The findings highlighted that internal health locus of control and God health locus of control play significant role in psychosocial adjustment to illness. Therefore, it is recommended that psychologists and clinicians take the dimensions of health locus of control into considerations in the treatment of psychological problems of diabetic patients.