Subjective well-being(SWB) is the scientific name for how people evaluate their lives, and since Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that requires lifelong adherence to a complicated and burdensome medical regimen, SWB could be easily underevaluated.

To measure the impact of SWB in adult patients with thalassemia.

To explore possible demographic, physical, and psychosocial correlates in SWB.

117 patients(23-60 years old, Mean age=37.2±9.3; 73% females) took part in the study. Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS-Ed Diener) was used for SWB, along with SF12 for health related quality of life, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), life orientation test(GrLOT-R) for dispositional optimism and a questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 21.

16.8% of patients were substantially to extremely dissatisfied with their lives(SWLS=5-14). 16.4% were slightly below average(SWLS=15-19), 19.8% had an average score (SWLS=20-24) and the rest had a high(29.8%-25-29) and very high score(17.2%-30-35) respectively. There was a significant difference between males(M=20±7) and females(M=22.8±7.2)(t=-1.906-p=0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that optimism(beta=-.403), stress(beta=-.415), spouse existence(beta=.155), and gender(beta=.228), explained 56.4% of the variance in SWB(adjusted R2=.564-p=0.026). Age, SF12, depression, anxiety and education had a Non Significant effect in the model.

Given these findings, almost half of thalassemia patients have average to low life satisfaction, something which implies that they are sometimes not functioning well because their unhappiness serves as a distraction. Talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist can often help the patient get moving in the right direction, although positive change will be up the person