The mediating role of hope in relations between spiritual well-being and resilience among adolescents with beta thalassemia major: a structural equation modeling approach

Patients with beta thalassemia major face various challenges in physical and psychosocial aspects. The need for resilience capacity to overcome these challenges can be effective. Identifying factors affecting resilience can be considered as a framework for designing nursing interventions. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the mediating role of hope in the relationship between spiritual well-being and resilience among adolescents with beta thalassemia major.

This was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population of the research included adolescents aged 11 to 21 years with beta thalassemia major who referred to thalassemia centers in Fars province in south of Iran in 1401, from which 288 participants were selected via convenience sampling method. Paloutzian and Ellison's spiritual well-being questionnaire (1982), Connor-Davidson resilience questionnaire (2003) and Herth Hope questionnaire (1992) were the instruments used in this study. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive tests, Pearson correlation, and a structural equation model in Spss-24 and Amos-24.

The results showed that all the fit indices are within the acceptance range of the model. The results obtained from structural equation modeling indicate a positive and significant effect between spiritual well-being and resilience (t=2.78, β=0.25), spiritual well-being and hope (t=2.31, β=0.32), and Hope with resilience (t=2.53, β=0.57). Finally, the indirect effect of spiritual well-being on resilience through hope is significant (p < 0.01, β = 0.052).

According to the results of this research, it is suggested to pay more attention to the promotion of spiritual health as a mechanism for improving hope and resilience in the care programs of these patients.