Control beliefs and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases. Analyzing the influence of specific coping strategies

Aims. This study investigates (1) to what extent the control belief of patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes mellitus influences their quality of life and (2) whether the various strategies of coping with these diseases mediate the correlation between control beliefs and subjective quality of life. Method. A total of 155 patients with coronary heart disease, 85 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 184 patients with type 2 diabetes, answered the KKG (Control Beliefs in Relation to Illness and Health Questionnaire), FEKB (Coping Strategies Concerning Illness Questionnaire), and parts of the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results. Chronically ill patients who believe control to be internal rather than external and score lower on the rumination scale report a significantly higher quality of life. Moreover, search for social support is an additional determinant of subjective quality of life. Conclusions. The implications for secondary prevention among chronically ill persons are discussed.