Body Image in Relation with Stress Level and Self-Esteem Among Adolescents with Thalassemia Major

Felicia Kurniawan, Magdalena Surjaningsih Halim, Surilena Surilena, Elisabeth Eileen Santoso, Sarah Agatha Indra, Valencia Valencia

Abstract


Background: Body image influences how adolescents perceive and accept physical changes. Adolescents with thalassemia major require regular blood transfusions, which may lead to iron overload and complications such as bone and skull deformities, growth delay, and low body mass index. These physical changes may contribute to body dissatisfaction, stress, and reduced self-esteem. This study aimed to examine the relationship between body image, stress, and self-esteem among adolescents with thalassemia major.

Methods: This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted from July to October 2023. A total of 54 adolescents aged 12–19 years from Jakarta, Bekasi, and Bogor participated in the study. After obtaining informed consent from their mothers, participants completed the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire–Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Body image, stress level, and self-esteem were assessed using these instruments. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test.

Results: Most participants were female (61.1%), with a mean age of 14.4 ± 2.42 years. The majority had a positive body image (61.1%), were not experiencing stress (70.4%), and had high self-esteem (83.3%). No significant associations were found between body image and stress (p=0.630), body image and self-esteem (p=0.261), or stress and self-esteem (p=0.274).

Conclusion: No significant associations were observed between body image and stress, body image and self-esteem, or stress and self-esteem among adolescents with thalassemia major. Despite disease-related physical changes, most participants reported a positive body image, low stress levels, and high self-esteem.


Keywords


Adolescent, body image, self concept, stress, thalassemia

Full Text:

PDF

References


  1. Angastiniotis M, Lobitz S. Thalassemias: an overview. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2019;5(1):16. doi:10.3390/ijns5010016
  2. Mishra Ak, Tiwari A. Iron overload in beta thalassemia major and intermedia patients. Mædica 2013;8(4):328–32.
  3. Vlychou M, Alexiou E, Thriskos P, Fezoulidis I, Vassiou K. Body composition in adult patients with thalassemia major. Int J Endocrinol. 2016;2016:6218437. doi:10.1155/2016/6218437
  4. Karakas S, Tellioglu AM, Bilgin M, Omurlu IK, Caliskan S, Coskun S. Craniofacial characteristics of thalassemia major patients. Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(3):204–8. doi: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.150013.
  5. Goodyear V. Narrative Matters: Young people, social media and body image. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 2020;25(1):48–50. doi:10.1111/camh.12345
  6. Pakki Shekinah, Sathiyaseelan A. Issues related to body image in young adult women. Saudi J Humanit Soc Sci. 2018;3:250–4. doi: 10.21276/sjhss.2018.3.2.11
  7. Ganesan S, Ravishankar SL, Ramalingam S. Are body image issues affecting our adolescents? a cross-sectional study among college going adolescent girls. Indian J Community Med Off Publ Indian Assoc Prev Soc Med. 2018;43(Suppl 1):S42–6. doi:10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_ 62_18
  8. Tarım HŞ, Öz F. Thalassemia major and associated psychosocial problems: a narrative review. Iran J Public Health. 2022;51(1):12–8. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v51i1.8287
  9. Kneavel M. Relationship between gender, stress, and quality of social support. Psychol Rep. 2021;124(4):1481–501. doi:10.1177/0033294120939844
  10. Khedr DH, El-said SG, Darwish A, Wahba NM. Stress, anxiety and depression among adolescents suffering from thalassemia. Port Said Sci J Nurs. 2021;8(3):149–68.
  11. Zolaly M, Zolaly FM, Al Belowi L, Shuqdar R, Al Belowi M, Alwasaidi TA, et al. Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in patients with beta thalassemia major in Almadinah Almunawwarah, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2020;12(11):e11367. doi:10.7759/cureus.11367
  12. Białecka-Pikul M, Stępień-Nycz M, Sikorska I, Topolewska-Siedzik E, Cieciuch J. Change and consistency of self-esteem in early and middle adolescence in the context of school transition. J Youth Adolescence. 2019;48(8):1605–18. doi:10.1007/s10964–019–01041-y
  13. DeHart T, Pelham BW. Fluctuations in state implicit self-esteem in response to daily negative events. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2007;43(1):157–65. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.01.002
  14. Behdani F, Badiee Z, Hebrani P, Moharreri F, Badiee AH, Hajivosugh N, et al. Psychological aspects in children and adolescents with major thalassemia: a case-control study. Iran J Pediatr. 2015;25(3):e322. doi:10.5812/ijp. 25(3)2015.322
  15. Ahadzadeh AS, Rafik-Galea S, Alavi M, Amini M. Relationship between body mass index, body image, and fear of negative evaluation: moderating role of self-esteem. Health Psychol Open 2018;5(1):2055102918774251. doi: 10.1177/2055102918774251
  16. Adib-Hajbaghery M, Ahmadi M, S P. Health related quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Iran J Ped Hematol Oncol. 2015;5(4):193–205.
  17. Ahmadi M, Gheibizadeh M, Rassouli M, Ebadi A, Asadizaker M, Jahanifar M. Experience of uncertainty in patients with thalassemia major: a qualitative study. Int J Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Res. 2020;14(4):237–47. doi: 10.18502/ijhoscr.v14i4.4479.
  18. Dhawan M, Sudhesh NT, Kakkar S. Body image issues and self-concept dilemmas in adolescents living with thalassemia. Psychology, Health Medicine. 2021;27(3):598–612. doi:10.1080/13548506.2021. 1903050.
  19. Punriddum J, Sanasuttipun W, Sangperm P. Factors related to body image of adolescents with thalassemia. Nurs Sci J Thail. 2018;36(1):57–72. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103620
  20. Naderi M, Raghibi M, Mahmoodi Nesheli H, et al. A Comparative study of body image in adolescents with beta-thalassemia and healthy individuals. Caspian Journal of Pediatrics 2021;7(1):502–8. doi:10.22088/CJP.BUMS.7.1.502
  21. Dhanjal H, Singh NR. Body self-image of beta thalassemia major adolescents in relation to their personality and self-esteem. Wesleyan J Res. 2020;13:77–87
  22. Hisam A, Khan NU, Tariq NA, Irfan H, Arif B, Noor M. Perceived stress and monetary burden among thalassemia patients and their caregivers. Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(4):901–6. doi:10.12669/pjms.344.15420
  23. Shosa MG, Al-Kalaldeh M. The transactional model of stress and coping as guidance for understanding adolescent patients’ experience with thalassemia: case report. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs 2020;33(1):49–54. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12259.
  24. Naderi M, Hormozi M reza, Ashrafi M, Emamdadi A. evaluation of mental health and related factors among patients with beta-thalassemia major in south east of iran. Iran J Psychiatry. 2012;7(1):47–51.
  25. Dervishi E, Peposhi F, Ibrahimi S. Self-esteem in adolescents and its connection with stressful experiences. J Psychiatry Psychology Res. 2020;3(2):144–51. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23822.59203
  26. Xiang Z, Tan S, Kang Q, Zhang B, Zhu L. Longitudinal effects of examination stress on psychological well-being and a possible mediating role of self-esteem in Chinese high school students. J Happiness Stud. 2019;20(1):283–305. doi:10.1007/s10902-017-9948-9
  27. Devi N, Joytsana. Body image, peer pressure and self-esteem among adolescents. Int J Creative Res Thoughts. 2018;6(2):120–32.
  28. Borimnejad, Parvizy S, Haghaani H, Sheibani B. The effect of family-centered empowerment program on self-efficacy of adolescents with thalassemia major: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Int J Comm Nurs Midwifery 2018;6(1):29–38.
  29. Pilcher JJ, Bryant SA. Implications of social support as a self-control resource. Front Behav Neurosci. 2016;10:228. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00228
  30. Nourbakhsh SMK, Atamanesh M, Effatpanah M, Salehi M, Heidari M. The association between behavioral problems with self-esteem and self-concept in pediatric patients with talasemia. Iran J Psychiatry. 2021;16(1):36–42. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00228




DOI: https://doi.org/10.15850/amj.v13n2.4587

Article Metrics

Abstract view : 13 times
PDF - 8 times


 This Journal indexed by

                  

           

 

Creative Commons License
AMJ is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

 


View My Stats