title: Self-esteem in Greek dialysis patients: the contribution of health locus of control.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic kidney disease is a permanent condition which requires renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or transplantation) to maintain life. The present study aimed to investigate the association of self-esteem with health locus of control in dialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 144 patients was recruited from 3 General Hospitals in the broader area of Athens, consisting of 84 patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis and 60 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Measurements were conducted with the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument, in which self-esteem is addressed by 1 item, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that self-esteem had a significant positive association with internal health locus of control. Self-esteem was also inversely related to the dimension of important others measured by the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control inventory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study provide evidence that there is a strong relation between self-esteem and health locus of control in dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Panteion University, Athens, Greece. theofi@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theofilou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult