Abstract
Purpose
To assess optimism/pessimism and locus of control in a sample of Parkinson's disease
patients and to evaluate their impact on disability and health-related quality of
life.
Methods
99 patients with Parkinson's disease completed the Life Orientation Test, Multidimensional
Health Locus of Control, Older Americans Resource and Services Activities of Daily
Living Subscale, and Short Form-12 Health Status Survey. Disease stage and severity
measures were completed by movement disorder specialists. Correlations and multivariate
regressions compared optimism/pessimism and locus of control with disability and health-related
quality of life.
Results
Higher optimism and less pessimism were associated with better mental health quality
of life. Greater internal locus of control was associated with less disability. These
results remained significant when controlling for disease severity.
Conclusions
Low optimism or high pessimism is associated with reduced quality of life in Parkinson's
disease. Patients with less internal locus of control have greater disability. Interventions
that promote personal control and positive attitudes may assist in reducing disability
and improving quality of life in Parkinson's disease.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 25,
2009
Received in revised form:
February 6,
2009
Received:
August 1,
2008
Footnotes
☆Submission statement: This paper has not been published previously and it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. If accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the publisher.
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
