Abstract
BackgroundSelf-rated health is a robust predictor of several health outcomes, such as functional ability, health care utilization, morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to investigate and explore how health locus of control and disease burden relate to self-rated health among patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.MethodsIn 2009, 414 Swedish patients who were using statins completed a questionnaire about their health, diseases and their views on the three-dimensional health locus of control scale. The scale determines which category of health locus of control – internal, chance or powerful others – a patient most identifies with. The data was analyzed using logistic regression and a structural equation modeling approach.ResultsThe analyses showed positive associations between internal health locus of control and self-rated health, and a negative association between health locus of control in chance and powerful others and self-rated health. High internal health locus of control was negatively associated with the cumulative burden of diseases, while health locus of control in chance and powerful others were positively associated with burden of diseases. In addition, age and education level had indirect associations with self-rated health through health locus of control.ConclusionsThis study suggests that self-rated health is positively correlated with internal locus of control and negatively associated with high locus of control in chance and powerful others in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, disease burden seems to be negatively associated with self-rated health.
Highlights
Self-rated health is a robust predictor of several health outcomes, such as functional ability, health care utilization, morbidity and mortality
This study suggests that self-rated health is positively correlated with internal locus of control and negatively associated with high locus of control in chance and powerful others in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease
Disease burden seems to be negatively associated with self-rated health
Summary
Self-rated health is a robust predictor of several health outcomes, such as functional ability, health care utilization, morbidity and mortality. Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the most widely used measures of personal perceived health. SRH, when measured via one question, is a robust predictor of several health outcomes, such as functional ability [1,2], returning to work after coronary artery disease [3], health care utilization [4], morbidity [5,6], and mortality [7,8,9,10,11]. It has been shown that SRH is a more reliable predictor for future health and mental health than other more objective measures [12]. PC p-value PC p-value PC p-value N.s.b −0.209
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