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Perceived control, illness status, stress, and adjustment to cardiac illness
1Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124.
Insights
Perceived control and life stress significantly impact psychological distress in cardiac patients. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective cardiac recovery interventions.
Area of Science:
- Health Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Health locus of control (HOC) and outcome expectancies are key psychological factors in chronic illness.
- Cardiac recovery is influenced by patient perceptions and life stressors.
- Previous research has not fully integrated contextual variables with control appraisals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between health locus of control, outcome expectancies, and psychological distress in cardiac patients.
- To investigate the role of contextual variables (life stress, disease chronicity, symptom level) in this relationship.
- To determine if perceived control influences psychological distress, considering life stress and other factors.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 71 cardiac patients using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales and cardiac recovery outcome expectancies.
- Collected data on life stress, heart disease chronicity, and reported symptom levels.
- Employed statistical methods to control for contextual variables and analyze interactive effects.
Main Results:
- Perceptions of control were not directly associated with psychological distress when contextual variables were controlled.
- A significant interaction was found between life stress levels and perceived control in predicting psychological distress.
- Contextual factors, particularly life stress, moderate the impact of control appraisals on patient well-being.
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the importance of considering life stress when evaluating the influence of control appraisals on psychological distress in cardiac populations.
- Integrating contextual variables into models of control is essential for a comprehensive understanding of cardiac recovery.
- Future interventions may benefit from addressing both perceived control and life stress management in cardiac patients.
Abstract:
A sample of 71 cardiac patients was assessed using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (Wallston, Wallston, & DeVellis, 1978) and a measure of outcome expectancies specific to cardiac recovery. Variables included life stress, chronicity of the heart disease, and the level of symptoms reported. Appraisals of control were unrelated to psychological distress when contextual variables were statistically controlled. An interactive effect between the level of life stress and perception of control was significantly associated with psychological distress. These results provide additional support for the inclusion of contextual variables in research on the effects of control appraisals.