Investigating the mental health and coping strategies of parents with major thalassemic children in Bandar Abbas

Sakineh Dadipoor; Hamid Haghighi; Abdoulhhossain Madani; Amin Ghanbarnejad; Fatemeh Shojaei; Aliakbar Hesam; Ali Safari Moradabadi

doi:10.4103/2277-9531.162375

Investigating the mental health and coping strategies of parents with major thalassemic children in Bandar Abbas

J Educ Health Promot. 2015 Aug 6:4:59. doi: 10.4103/2277-9531.162375. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Sakineh Dadipoor¹, Hamid Haghighi², Abdoulhhossain Madani³, Amin Ghanbarnejad³, Fatemeh Shojaei⁴, Aliakbar Hesam⁵, Ali Safari Moradabadi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
² Department of Counseling and Psychological, School of Technology, Hormozgan Science and, Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
³ Social Determinants for Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
⁴ Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
⁵ Department of Psychology, School of Psychology, Hormozgan Science and, Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
⁶ Student Research Committee, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Major thalassemia is a hereditary, chronic blood disease caused by the synthesis deficiency of one or more polypeptide chains of globin during childhood. This leads to the rise of blood pressure and family tensions. Therefore, the coping strategies of the family could seriously affect and facilitate the thalassemic child's healthy growth. The present research sought to investigate the mental health and coping strategies of families with major thalassemic children in Bandar Abbas in 2013.

Materials and methods: This study is of a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional type. Research population consisted of 140 parents of major thalassemic children who visited Shahid Mohammadi Hospital of Bandar Abbas. The instruments used were the 12-item General Health Questionnaire of Goldberg and Williams along with the coping strategies questionnaire. Nonprobabilistic, convenient sampling method was used. To analyze the data, Spearman's correlation coefficient, Chi-square and descriptive statistical tests were used. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results: Data analysis showed that parents' mental health (32 ± 4.25) along with their coping strategy scores (45 ± 7.50) was about the average. The most prevalent coping strategies among the parents were represented as: "I trust in God in order to get my problems solved" (87%), "to get mentally and spiritually relieved, I would visit mosques and holy shrines" (53%), and "to overcome problems, I make harder attempts" (50.7%). A significant correlation was found between the parents' coping strategies and general health (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was also observed between mother's educational level (P = 0.044), age (P = 0.022) and general health.

Discussion and conclusion: According to the results of this research, it is categorical for the ministry of health and medical education and those in charge to pay special and adequate attention to the social, spiritual, and mental health of these children and their families.

Keywords: Children; mental health; parents’ coping strategies; thalassemia.