Impact of Anticipatory Grief on Quality of Life among Caregivers of Thalassemia Patients: Mediating Role of Physical Activity

Hifza Fatima; Sadaf Ahsan; Sheeraz Ahmed

Authors

Hifza Fatima Department of Psychology, Foundation University School of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sadaf Ahsan Department of Psychology, Foundation University School of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sheeraz Ahmed Department of Psychology, Foundation University School of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Keywords:

Anticipatory Grief, Quality of Life, Physical Activity, Caregivers, Thalassemia, Gender Differences

Abstract

Caregivers of patients with chronic illness, such as thalassemia, face unique challenges in their lives. During the caretaking of the patient, caregivers face anticipatory grief due to the fear of loss. The goal of the current study was to investigate the impact of anticipatory grief on the quality of life of caregivers of thalassemia patients with the mediating role of physical activity. Differences across genders in a proposed relationship were also studied. Anticipatory grief scale (Theut et al., 1991), international physical activity questionnaire (Geneva, 1998) & quality of life scale (Flanagan, 1970), alongside the demographic sheet and written informed consent form, were employed for collecting data among 300 caregivers using cross cross-sectional survey research design that included multiple cities of Punjab. Results indicate that anticipatory grief has a significant negative relationship with quality of life and physical activity. Physical activity has a significant positive relationship with quality of life. Results also indicate that women show significantly higher levels of anticipatory grief than men. Men show a higher level of quality of life than women. The findings of the study provided strong empirical support for the predicted role of anticipatory grief on quality of life among caregivers. These findings further highlight that physical activity should be part of parents' lives to deal with grief related to the health of a child.

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