A study of symptom distress, health locus of control, and coping resources of aging post-polio survivors.

Nearly one-half of the estimated 1.63 million American patients who survived the polio epidemics of the 1940s and 1950s are re-experiencing symptoms of the acute illness. This exploratory study of 125 aging post-polio survivors examined the differences of symptom distress, health locus of control, and coping resources for survivors who had and those who had not incurred a chronic physical disability following the acute phase of poliomyelitis. The Symptom Rating Test, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the Coping Resources Inventory were used. No significant differences were found between disability groups concerning symptom distress, health locus of control, or coping resources. However, significant negative correlations were found between coping resources and both the quantity and severity of symptom distress. The differences found between perceived health locus of control and both coping resources and symptom distress were marginally significant.