ABSTRACT

The aim of the current study was to investigate overprotective parenting attitudes and emotional status among thalassemia, hemophilia and leukemia patients’ mothers.

Seventy-four children who were between six to sixteen years old participated in current study. Fifty-two children were in the study group (thalassemia, hemophilia and leukemia patients) and twenty-two children in control group. Brief Symptom Inventory and Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI) were used to collect data.

According to the results, over protective parenting attitudes in the study group were significantly higher than the control group. When the study group was compared within itself, it was observed that the mothers of the hemophilia had significantly protective attitudes compared to the leukemia patients. The depression, anxiety, negative self-perception, somatization and hostility scores of the study group were significantly higher than the control group. At the same time, there is a positive relationship between over-protective parenting attitudes and anxiety.

Overprotective parenting attitudes can cause some psychopathology and developmental defiency in the childrens’ future personal life. Children diagnosed with chronic or serious illness and their family should be evaluated psychologically.