The Relationship Between Social Capital and Self-Concept in Adolescents With Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia is among the most common hematological diseases, but it has no definitive cure. The self-concept in adolescents with thalassemia major changes due to changes in their facial form. Among the factors affecting the patient’s self-concept is social capital. Objectives: The study aims to examine the relationship between social capital and self-concept in adolescents with thalassemia major, using a sample of patients admitted to Shafa hospital in Ahvaz, Iran in 2014. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 146 adolescents (age range, 13 - 18 years) with thalassemia major who were referred to the hemoglobinopathy ward of Shafa hospital in Ahvaz, Iran to receive blood. The sampling method was a census. Data collection was completed using the Onyx and Bullen social capital questionnaire and Piers Harris’s children’s self-concept scale. After obtaining the informed consent of the patients’ parents, questionnaires were handed to patients in different shifts and answered in the presence of the researcher. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and analytical statistics (mean, std. deviation, and Pearson correlation) were carried out (CI 95%). Results: The mean and standard deviation of patients’ age was 1.76 ± 15.88. 53.4% were male. 58.7% of the sample had an average self-concept and 63.2% had average social capital. The mean score of the total sample’s self-concept was 11.50 ± 53.36, which is moderate. The average social capital of all adolescents with thalassemia major was 17.02 ± 87.38, i.e. in the mid-range. Among the aspects of self-concept, about 70% of participants had an average or poor appearance, attitude, and anxiety. For social trust, more than 90% of participants were average or weak and 75.2% had poor social participation. The dimensions of fame and popularity, appearance, and happiness all had maximal correlation with social capital (P = 0.0001). All aspects of social capital except for relations with neighbors and pioneering in social activities had a significant relationship with self-concept (P < 0.05). This study shows that a statistically significant relationship exists between social capital and self-concept (P = 0.001 and r = 0.280). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a significant relationship between social capital and self-concept and its dimensions; therefore, self-concept can be increased in adolescent patients by promoting their social capital components.