Health locus of control, self-efficacy, and multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain

Chronic back pain is costly and potentially disabling, with low response to medical procedures. Poor physical and mental health demonstrate correlation with chronic back pain. The current study investigated the value of using health-related locus of control and pain-related self-efficacy to predict physical and mental health outcomes following multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain. Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales and the Chronic Pain Self Efficacy scale were administered to 28 males and 33 females ages 28 to 72 completing chronic back pain rehabilitation. Locus of control, self-efficacy, and physical and mental health demonstrated treatment-related changes, with notable improvements in physical and mental health. Regression analyses examined the value of pre-treatment health locus of control and pain-related self-efficacy as predictors of physical and mental health one month following treatment. Higher internal and lower doctor health locus of control, and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted higher lift scores one month after treatment. Higher baseline self-efficacy also predicted better physical functioning and lower disability at one month. Pain-related self-efficacy and health locus of control may be valuable predictors of treatment benefit for chronic back pain patients. Limitations included low sample size. Abstract Approved: ________________________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ________________________________________________ Title and Department ________________________________________________ DateApproved: ________________________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ________________________________________________ Title and Department ________________________________________________ Date HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL, SELF-EFFICACY, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION FOR CHRONIC BACK PAIN by Nicole Hochhausen Keedy A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa December 2009 Thesis Supervisor: Professor Elizabeth Altmaier Copyright by NICOLE HOCHHAUSEN KEEDY 2009