Stress and Coping among Parents of Children Having Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a chronic condition caused due to genetic abnormality which affects a childs normal physiological functioning. Thalassemia challenges every individual as well as their family members at physical, emotional, cognitive level and disrupts their quality of life. Hence the study to assess the level of stress and coping among parents of children having thalassemia was undertaken at St. Johns Medical College Hospital (SJMCH), Bangalore. A total of 100 study subjects were selected using purposive sampling technique. Parents having children with Thalassemia had severe financial stress (74 %). The problem oriented coping mechanisms were used effectively by 57 % of the parents. There was no significant relationship found between overall stress and coping. The financial burdens on the family members cause major stress in the parents. The use of coping mechanisms was significant in those living in nuclear families and residing in urban areas which clearly emphasize that the parents are more exposed to the disease and taking more steps in knowing about the disease and also those parents who have not received counseling find difficulty in coping with the disease.