Attitudes of Individuals with a Family History of Hypertension Towards the Prevention of Hypertension and Health Locus of Control

This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of individuals with a family history of hypertension towards the prevention of hypertension, their health locus of control, and the factors affecting these attitudes. The data of this cross-sectional study were collected from 97 individuals through face-to-face interviews between 01 March 2023 and 01 June 2023. A Descriptive Information Form, the Attitudes Scale Towards Prevention of Hypertension, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale-Form A were used to collect data. It was observed that the participants had a high level of attitudes towards prevention of hypertension. Their knowledge of disease and risk, habits and lifestyle attitudes, attitudes towards prevention and control, and attitudes towards mental state and physical activity were positively high. Those who lived with their families had lower attitudes towards the prevention of hypertension, attitudes towards prevention and control, and knowledge of disease and risk than those who lived alone. Smokers had lower attitudes towards habits and lifestyles than non-smokers. As age advanced, attitudes towards the prevention of hypertension, attitudes towards prevention and control, and attitudes towards habits and lifestyles rose. Attitudes towards prevention and control declined as educational levels elevated. As educational level elevated, knowledge of disease and risk declined. It was found that the locus of control of the individuals was the internal locus of control, and as the internal locus of control grew, their attitudes towards the prevention of hypertension, attitudes of prevention and control, knowledge of disease and risk, attitudes of mental state and physical activity, and attitudes of habit and lifestyle positively increased.