Chronic Pain, Quality of Life, and Health Locus of Control: An Empirical Inquiry

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21868624

Shailendra Kumar Sharma¹ and Surender Kumar Dhalwal² (Department of Psychology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab¹ and
Department of Clinical Psychology, Rehabilitation & Research, National Institute for the Empowerment of the Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun, Uttarakhand²)

Chronic pain is a highly significant aspect of human life, impacting millions of people worldwide. Despite extensive research, it is still not well understood in terms of its psychological and social dimensions and remains notoriously difficult to manage. It has become a growing public health issue, leading to higher healthcare costs and imposing a substantial burden on society in India and other countries. The present study was intended to examine the role of chronic pain in determining Quality of Life and Health Locus of Control. The sample comprised 500 participants, including 250 participants with a chronic pain condition and 250 participants without a chronic pain condition/healthy state. World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales were used to measure the dependent variables of the study. Inclusive and exclusive criteria for the sample selection were taken into consideration. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results indicated that chronic pain is a major constraint in maintaining better quality of life and internal health locus of control.