Relationship of Health Locus of Control with Breast Cancer Screening Belief of Iranian Women

Promoting breast cancer screening (BCS) behavior of women can lead to a reduction in mortality. The health locus of control affects cancer screening behavior of women; however, there is not sufficient evidence regaring this issue in Iran. The overall goal of our study is to determine the relationship of the health locus of control with the breast cancer screening belief of Iranian Women. This is a cross-sectional study carried out on 325 women in Tehran. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), Breast Cancer Screening Belief Questionnaire (BCSBQ), and Demographic questionnaire were used for collecting data. Statistical analyze was performed by the SPSS version 17 software. The Pearson correlation and regression model were used for data analyze. In this study, 325 women, age 18 to 75 years, participated in this study. The mean±SD of BCSBQ and MHLC score was 40.72±10.41 and 67.78±17.67 respectively. The regression analysis showed that for the one-unit increase in the Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLC), Powerful others Health Locus of Control (PHLC), and Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLC) score (dimensions of Health Locus of Control), the total BCSBQ scores increased 0.54, 0.31, and 0.57 respectively. For each unit increase in age and education, the knowledge and perceptions of the BC score increased 0.05 and 0.23 units respectively. For the one-unit increase in the IHLC, PHLC, age, and education dimensions, the attitudes towards the general health checkup score increased 0.17, 0.1, 0.05, and 0.188 respectively. The current study provided new insights about the BCSB of Iranian women with MHLC. In the study, all the dimensions of the health locus of control were useful in predicting the breast cancer screening belief of the participants.