Psychological Problems and Coping Patterns among Mothers of Children with Thalassemia

Abstract

Background: Mothers of children with thalassemia usually experience many psychological problems which negatively affect not only all quality of life domains but also, their coping patterns towards their children illness. Aim: This study aims to assess psychological problems and coping patterns among mothers of children with thalassemia. Research design: A descriptive design will be utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at blood transfusion unit in blood diseases department at Benha specialized children hospital, Qaliubiya Governorate. Sample: A purposive sample of (100) mothers of children with thalassemia were taken for the previously mentioned setting. Tools: Three tools were utilized to collect data; Tool (I): A structured Interviewing Questionnaire Sheet, Tool (II): Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) and Tool (III): Coping patterns scale. Results: findings reflected that half of studied mothers had moderate level of depression and more than half of them had moderate level of anxiety and stress. In addition, more than half of them had low level of total coping patterns. Conclusion: Based on the results, there is a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total depression, anxiety and stress among the studied mothers. While, there is a highly statistically significant negative correlation between total depression, anxiety, stress and the total coping patterns among the studied mothers. Recommendations: Implementation an psycho educational training program for all mothers of children with thalassemia to decrease their psychological problems and enhance their coping patterns.