title: Relationship of locus of control, psychological distress, and trauma exposure in groups impacted by intense political conflict in Egypt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social and political instability have become common situations in many parts of the world. Exposure to different types of traumatic circumstances may differentially affect psychological status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between personal perceptions of control over the events happening in one's life and psychological distress in two groups who experienced physical trauma but differed as to whether the trauma was a result of political upheaval and violence. Views on the extent to which the state was interested in the individual were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 120 patients who were injured in the Cairo epicenter and 120 matched controls from the greater Cairo area whose injuries were from other causes. The Brown Locus of Control Scale and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL 90-R) were administered approximately three months after the January 2011 start of the demonstrations and subsequent overthrow of the government.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups did not differ on locus of control. For both groups, externality was associated with greater distress, suggesting a relationship between perceived helplessness in controlling one's life and distress. The Cairo group scored significantly higher than the control group on the SCL 90-R Global Severity Index (GSI) and Positive Symptom Total (PST). Perceptions of state interest in the population were low; overall, 78% viewed the state as having little or no interest in them. Discussion The relationship between exposure intensity and psychological distress is examined. In addition, differences in findings in populations experiencing political chaos compared with other types of disasters are considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beliefs regarding personal control over one's life circumstances are more closely associated with psychological distress than the circumstances in which the trauma occurred.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadallah
authors.forename: Gloria R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Efthalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massou
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prodromitis
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skembris
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D057189:Checklist; D002960:Civil Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D055866:Earthquakes; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult