Health locus of control, distress, and utilization of protease inhibitors among HIV-positive men. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between health locus of control (HLOC), distress, and protease inhibitor (PI) utilization in gay/bisexual men in all stages of HIV illness. METHOD: A total of 173 men participating in a longitudinal study of the psychological effects of HIV illness were administered a number of psychological distress measures and the HLOC scale. The association between the HLOC subscales, distress, and PI utilization was evaluated. RESULTS: In addition to physical symptoms, the attribution of health status to chance or fate significantly predicted depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness, and recent life stress. Results also demonstrated a significant relationship between strong, positive beliefs in doctors and other health care professionals and PI utilization. CONCLUSION: The results of this study point to a strong association between beliefs that health status is related to chance or fate and distress. In addition, beliefs in physicians and other health care providers appear to contribute to decisions to initiate PI therapy.

publication date

  • August 1, 2000

Research

keywords

  • Attitude to Health
  • Depression
  • HIV Seropositivity
  • Health Services
  • Health Status
  • Internal-External Control
  • Protease Inhibitors

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0033693814

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00157-4

PubMed ID

  • 11068061

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 49

issue

  • 2