PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CHRONIC DISEASES ON MENTAL DEPRESSION

Abstract

Research Background: Chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are increasing worldwide and require long-term management, often affecting patients’ psychological well-being (WHO, 2023; Beaglehole et al., 2019). The present study has focused on examining mental depression levels and gender differences among patients with chronic diseases.

Objectives: The study objective was to find out the psychological impact of chronic diseases on the level of mental depression among patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Another objective was to compare the level of mental depression between male and female patients suffering from chronic diseases. 

Procedure: A purposive sampling technique has been used to select participants for the present study. The total sample has included 300 patients who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases, and these participants have been selected from the Satara and Solapur districts of Maharashtra. The age of the participants has been limited to the range of 30 to 60 years. The study mental depression scale developed by Dr. Veenita Sharma has been used

Conclusions: It can be concluded that patients with high blood pressure have shown higher levels of mental depression than patients with diabetes, whereas gender has not shown a significant difference in mental depression between male and female patients, and the interaction between type of chronic disease and gender has also not shown a significant effect on mental depression levels.