The effect of Roy’s systemic model on social adjustment of children with thalassemia

Children with thalassemia face serious clinical and psychological complications that can cause many problems for them and their families. Coping strategies based on psychological theories help these children to adapt to their new situation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Roy’s systemic model on social adjustment of children with thalassemia.

This experimental study was performed on 54 thalassemic children referred to Taleghani Hospital in Gonbade Kavous (Golestan Province, Iran). Data were collected by Bell adjustment and demographic information questionnaires, and then analyzed by SPSS-21 software using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (paired t-test, independent t-test, U Mann-Whitney and Chi-square) at a significant level of 0.05.

Independent t-test did not show a significant difference between the intervention and test groups before the study (P = 0.59). This test showed a significant difference between the two groups after the intervention (P = 0.002). Paired t-test showed a significant difference in the intervention group before and after the study (P = 0.016). Paired t-test in the control group before and after the intervention did not show a significant difference (P = 0.16). ANCOVA test showed a significant difference by removing the effect of pre-test. So that 0.34 of the variable-dependent changes can be related to the Roy adaptation pattern (P <0.01, eta = 34%)

Education based on Roy’s theory affects social adjustment of children with thalassemia. The quality of life of children with thalassemia depends on several factors.