Abstract
The study investigated the effects of Health Locus or Control beliefs as an individual difference variables and cancer stage as medical variables on cancer patients' psychological adaptation. Although some studies suggested that HLC beliefs were effective to account for psychological adaptation of cancer patients, but their studies did not include medical variables, which were important factors for psychological adaptation of cancer patients. Another purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between HLC in cancer patients and social support to them.
Two-hundred and seventeen subjects, who were undergone an operation on the cancer and already discharged, responded to questionnaires, which included HLC (Health Locus of Control). STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). THI (Todai Health Index) and social support scales. Medical variables were collected from doctor charts by researchers.
Multiple regression indicated that HLC and cancer stage accounted for 33% and 27%, respectively, of the variance in cancer patients' anxiety and depression. This results suggested that HLC was as useful as the stage to explain anxiety and depression on cancer patients. ANOVA revealed the interaction of self-control × emotional support by doctor was significant. When received many emotional supports by doctor, high self-control beliefs were high anxiety, but low self-control were not. And the interaction of self-control × emmotional support from family showed that patients with high self-control beliefs were high depression when they did not received any emotional supports by family. This inconsistent results, were discussed, suggested the same support was not necessary to all of patients.
