Impact of Depression, Anxiety and Stress on Mental Health of Individuals with Thalassemia and Their Caregivers

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the impact of depression, anxiety and stress on mental health of individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. Total 300 participants (150 individuals with thalassemia and 150 caregivers) were taken from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It was hypothesized that there will be a significant positive relationship between the depression, anxiety and stress with psychological distress among individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. Secondly, it was hypothesized that there will be a significant negative relationship of depression, anxiety and stress with psychological wellbeing among individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. The study also hypothesized that depression and stress will significantly predict psychological wellbeing among individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. For the assessment of depression, anxiety and stress, DASS 21 Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (Aslam & Kamal, 2017) was used and for the assessment of mental health, Mental Health Inventory Scale MHI 38 (Khan, Hanif & Tariq, 2015) was used. Results revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between depression, anxiety and stress with psychological distress among the individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. The study findings further revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between depression, anxiety and stress with psychological wellbeing among individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. It was also revealed that depression and stress will predict psychological wellbeing among individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers. Study has important implications in helping the psychologists and doctors to design a collaborative program for both individuals with thalassemia and their caregivers to minimize their symptoms medically and psychologically.