Relationship of coping mechanism of mothers with mental health of their major thalassemic children

Beta-thalassemia major is a chronic، hematological disorder with psychological adverse effects on patients and their families. Parents، in particular mothers who are mostly the primary caregiver، are the ones to deal with the stress of their kid thalassemics and use different coping styles either adaptive or maladaptive. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship of coping strategies of mothers with the mental health of their thalassemic children. In this cross-sectional study، out of the patients referring to the Thalassemic Clinic of Ahwaz Shafa Hospital، 36 patients with thalassemia major (12-16 y/o) and their mothers were selected by the convenient sampling method. The subjects were assessed using the demographic data questionnaire، the coping styles questionnaire (CSQ) (for mothers)، and SCL90-R questionnaire (for children). The data were finally analyzed by the spss software. Out of the total number of the children with thalassemia major، 91. 2% suffered from psychosocial problems. Among the mothers، 80. 55% more frequently used the adaptive coping styles; a significant positive correlation was found between mothers’ maladaptive coping mechanism and psychological problems of their children (p= 0. 33) (r= 0. 356). Educational planning aimed at increasing the coping skills in mothers with thalassemic children can be useful in decreasing psychological problems of children.