Validation of the Pain Locus of Control Questionnairein Argentinean University Students with Headaches

Abstract

Objective.
This study aims to validate the Pain Locus of Control Questionnaire (PLCQ) in Argentinean university
students with recurrent headaches.
Method.
382 university students were intentionally selected, 77,7% were
females and the 22,3% males, with an average age of 22,4 years old (
SD =
4.2). Psychometric studies were
developed to evaluate internal structure, internal consistency and external validity.
Results.
Exploratory
factor analysis revealed a factor structure of three dimensions that explained the 39,79% of variance: (1)
health professional’s external locus of control, (2) hazardous locus of control and (3) internal locus of control.
Additionally, Cronbach ́s
α
values were observed to be optimal for the three factors of the scale (among 0,80
and 0,86). Although, Pearson ́s coefficients calculated to evaluate external validity revealed that the factors
“health professionals’ external locus of control” and “random external locus of control” were significantly and
positively correlated to pain intensity (
r =
0,15
, p <
0,01
; r =
0,23
, p < 0,01
, respectively), they turned out to be
low.
Conclusion.
The psychometric studies developed in this study suggest that the PLCQ is reliable and valid
to be used with Argentinean university students with recurrent headaches. However this study is preliminary,
therefore more studies are needed to supplement these findings and to improve its lack of external validity.