TITLE:
Psychological Wellbeing of Saudi Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Illnesses
AUTHORS:
Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour, Ahmad E. Aboshaiqah, Imad N. Thultheen, Wisam M. Salim
KEYWORDS:
Psychological Wellbeing, Depression, Psychological Distress, Life Satisfaction, Chronic Illnesses
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
15,
2015
ABSTRACT: Patients’
psychosocial status interferes with their ability to manage their physical
needs independently affecting health care outcomes. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the psychological wellbeing of patients diagnosed with
chronic illnesses in Saudi Arabia. A cross sectional survey using 412 patients
diagnosed with chronic illnesses has been used to collected data in regards to
depressive symptoms, psychological distress and life satisfaction. 17.5% of the
patients reported that they had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and
about 50% of them had high level of life satisfaction, moderate level of
psychological distress. There were significant association between patients’
age and depression (r = .17, p = .003), while no significant correlation with life satisfaction and
psychological distress (p > .05).
Positive and significant correlation found between period of diagnosis and life
satisfaction (r = .16, p = .010), and negative and significant
correlations with psychological distress (r = -.13, p = .029). Also patients were
different in the level of life satisfaction relation to medical diagnoses (F5412 = 2.74, p = .019). Patients with
chronic illness are in need for psychological care, and periodic psychological
screening is one step toward maintaining their psychological wellbeing.