Investigating the effect of psychological empowerment on using coping strategies, stress, anxiety and depression in adolescents with haemophilia: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of psychological empowerment on using coping strategies, stress, anxiety and depression in haemophilic adolescents. A total of 60 adolescents with haemophilia aged 13–19 years old were recruited in a randomized clinical trial and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The instruments included Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Lazarus and Folkman’s Coping Strategies Questionnaire (LFCSQ). The intervention group underwent psychological empowerment. The control group received routine intervention. Data were analysed with Chi-square test and repeated measures analysis of variance. The findings showed a decrease in the mean scores of anxiety, stress and depression (p < .001), and an increase usage of the problem-focused coping strategies (p = .007), in the intervention group after the intervention, that were significantly different with those of the control group. Psychological empowerment could be effective in improving the use of coping strategies and decreasing stress, anxiety and depression in adolescents with haemophilia.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychological empowerment
• adolescents
• coping strategies
• depression
• haemophilia

Acknowledgments

This paper is taken from the findings of Azam Karami’s dissertation approved by the Research Deputy of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences with the clinical trial registration number 23 201502079267N4, which was operationalized with financial support from the university (Grant No. 93-7364). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. This research was registered in IRCT (number: 201502079267N4). We express sincere appreciation to those who helped us with this study, including the director and staff members of the Dastgheib hospital and the study participants, whose commitment was admirable.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Deputy of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [93-7364].

Notes on contributors

Giti Setoodeh

Giti Setoodeh is an Assistant Professor of Nursing, Director of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Department at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Azam Karami

Azam Karami is a Masters of Nursing at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Mitra Edraki

Mitra Edraki is an Educator of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty member of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Narjes Nick

Narjes Nick is a Ph.D. in Nursing, Instructor of Public Health Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.