Cognitive moderators in adjustment to chronic illness: Locus of control beliefs following traumatic brain injury

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Abstract
Locus of control (LOC) beliefs and quality of life outcomes were assessed in 54 male patients with moderate (n = 32) or severe (n = 22) traumatic brain injuries (TBI). There were no differences in LOC beliefs between the moderate and severe groups as measured by either the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) or the Revised Internal-External Scale (RIES). Correlation coefficients calculated between LOC scales and multidimensional measures of quality of life ranged from -0.22 to 0.42. Multiple regression analyses, in which Glasgow Coma Scale scores and years of education were initially “forced” as the primary initial predictors, indicated that LOC beliefs were related significantly to outcome, even after removing the influence of injury severity and education. The results suggest that postinjury, cognitive factors, such as LOC beliefs, may play an important role in recovery from TBI. Furthermore, these factors may be amenable to intervention by the rehabilitation team in a way that injury-related variables are not.