A Study Of Psycho-Social Aspects Of Both Hemophiliacs And Carriers In Greece

The aim of this research study was firstly to investigate the implications of the psycho‐social aspects of haemophiliacs/carriers in Greece and secondly to understand human nature and thus be able to handle haemophiliacs' and carriers' anxieties and fears. The design and methodology of the study was an exploratory and descriptive one. The total membership was a random sample of hundred haemophiliacs and hundred carriers. Only 89 and 75 respectively answered. Two questionnaires were administered with a veiw to obtain the groups' reactions and attitudes to various psycho‐social aspects affecting their personal life and environment. The questionnaires consisted of open‐ended and closed questions. The findings from this study suggested that haemophiliacs experience pain, parental anxiety, stress in the family and interference with family plans in a more realistic and objective way. This attitude could be a result either from a genuine awareness of their disease or from the psychology of defending oneself through denial. With regard to carriers it was found that similar psycho‐social aspects had significant signs of exaggeration in terms of fear and anxiety. This could be attributed to the inappropriateness of their defensive reaction. The evaluation of the responses in the light of the actual situation, confirms the above results with an even greater emphasis on tendencies.