IntroductionThe satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) is a brief five-item measure of global life satisfaction rated on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). It is noted as one of the most popular scales in the measurement of life satisfaction.ObjectivesTo test the psychometric properties of SWLS.AimsTo create a valid measurement, easy to use for primary care and during treatment assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), emotional disorder (ED) and general population (GP).MethodsTranslation of SWLS was performed using the multiple forward and backward translation protocol. Life orientation test (GrLOT-R), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), was also administered to check construct validity of SWLS.Results809 adults participated, 175 (21.6%) male, 634 (78.4%) female. The total scale of the SWLS had a coefficient alpha of .831. Item - total correlations where from .253-.783. Factor analysis has supported a unidimensional model with 1 factor explaining 68% of the total variance. Mean scores differed significantly between GP (M = 21 ± 6.3), DM (19.1 ± 6.2) and ED (M = 17.2 ± 6.9) (Mean differences = 1.847 and 3.723 p < .001 respectively). There was significant negative correlation with stress (r = -.297 p < .001), anxiety (-.297 p < .001) and depression (r = -.499 p < .001) and positive correlation with GrLOT-R (r = .499 p < .001).ConclusionsThe results of the current validation study suggest that the Greek translation of the SWLS is both reliable and valid, with good construct and discriminant validity and psychometric properties close to those reported in the international literature.

IntroductionThalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that requires lifelong adherence to a complicated and burdensome medical regimen which could potentially impact emotional functioning of patients.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in adult patients with thalassemia.AimsTo explore possible demographic, medical, and psychosocial correlates of these symptoms.Methods117 patients (19-61 years old, M age = 37.2Plusmn;9.3; 63% female) took part in the study. Depression, anxiety stress scale (DASS) was used along with SF12 for health related quality of life and a questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 16.ResultsSevere depressive symptoms were found in 17 patients (15%), anxiety symptoms in 11(9.6%) and stress symptoms in 35(30.2%). Sex, age, education, marital status and income had no significant correlation with anxiety and stress. In depression there was a significant difference between single and married patients (x2=6.990 p< .05), with 58.8% of single patients suffering from more depressive symptoms. Higher stress symptoms had a significant correlation with symptoms severity (r=.452 p< .001) and the present socioeconomic situation in Greece (r=.632 p< .001).ConclusionsGiven these findings, regular screening for anxiety stress and depression symptoms could help to identify at-risk patients to provide them with appropriate psychological support with the goal of improving emotional health.

IntroductionResearch has suggested that individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are twice as likely to suffer from depression, compared with the general population. In addition, women with DM show increased risk for developing depression or depressive symptomsObjectivesTo compare the self evaluation DM patients with depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS).AimsTo reveille the possible gender differences, regarding depression anxiety and stress in DM.Methods272 DM patients (74(27.2%) males / 198(72.8%) females), in two outpatients’ clinics in Athens-Greece took part in the study. DASS was used for the evaluation of depression. Statistical analysis was were performed with SPSS-16.0.ResultsWomen had a significantly higher mean score (MA = 6.9 ± 7.2) in anxiety and depression (MD = 8.1 ± 7.4) than men (MA = 4.8 ± 4.6) and (MD = 4.7 ± 5.6), (T = -2.543 p < .05) and (T = -2.812 p < .05) respectively. Women had also a significant difference concerning depression comorbidity, with more women (21,2%) suffering from depressive disorder than men (5,4%), chi square test = 9.578 p < .05.ConclusionsAnalysis revealed that female gender is a significant risk factor for negative feelings and depressive comorbidity among patients with DM.

IntroductionThe SHS is a brief four-item measure of global subjective happiness rated on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). SHS is suited for different age, occupational, linguistic, and cultural groups, is easy to implement and its short form possesses measurement accuracy.ObjectivesTo test the psychometric properties of SHS.AimsTo validate an easy to use and valid measurement, for primary care and during treatment assessment in psychiatric patients with emotional disorder(PPED) and general population (GP) in Greece.MethodsTranslation was performed using the multiple forward and backward translation protocol. Life orientation test (GrLOT-R), Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS) and Satisfaction with life Scale (SWLS), was also administered to check construct validity of SWLS.Results856 adults participated, 218 (25.5%) males, 638 (74.5%) females. The total scale of the SWLS had a coefficient alpha of .756. Item - total correlations where from .223-.735. Factor analysis has supported a unidimensional model with 1 factor explaining 59.4% of the total variance. Mean scores differed significantly between GP (M=18.4±4.4) and PPED (M=15.2±4.2) (Mean differences=4.622 p< .001). There was significant negative correlation with stress (r=-.443 p< .001) anxiety (r=-.350 p< .001) and depression (-.416 p< .001) and positive with GrLOT-R (r=.574 p< .001) and SWLS (r=.678 p< .001).ConclusionsThe results of the current validation study suggest that the Greek translation of the SHS is both reliable and valid, with good construct and discriminant validity and psychometric properties close to those reported in the international literature.

IntroductionSickle cell and thalassemia (haemoglobinopathies) are autosomal recessive inherited conditions that affect haemoglobin and as chronic diseases, stress, anxiety and depression are comorbid conditions.ObjectivesTo examine possible biopsychosocial factors affecting stress, anxiety and depression symptoms in these patients.AimsTo investigate whether different condition related markers, contribute to the psychological symptomatology.MethodsA total of 97 patients participated in the study, 21 males (21.6%) and 76 females (78.4%), with a mean age of 44.35. Convenience sampling method was used and participants were recruited from the General Hospital of Nikaia, ‘Ag. Panteleimon’, in Athens, Greece. DASS and MFI scales were used to measure the dependent and independent variables. Data were analysed with the SPSS 21 software.ResultsMultivariate analysis revealed that days between transfusions (beta = −0.454), reduced activity (beta = 0.350) and age (beta = −0.207) explained 30.1% of the variance in Stress [F(3.91) = 13.04 R2 = 0.301 P = 0.03]. Reduced activity (beta = 0.417) and days between transfusions (beta = 0.318) explained 30,3% of the variance in Anxiety [F(2.92) = 19.96 R2 = 0.301 P = 0.03]. Finally reduced activity (beta = 0.334), days between transfusions (beta = 0.364), and reduced motivation explained 41.3% of the variance in Depression [F(3.91) = 21.34 R2 = 0.413 P = 0.03]. Levels of ferritin, haemoglobin, age and present condition of health had a NS effect in the models.ConclusionsSimilar factors were found to affect stress, anxiety and depression in the sample, with days between transfusions and reduced activity being the major factors affecting the psychological symptoms in haemoglobinopathy patients. More research is needed in order for all the biopsychosocial factors to be revealed in this field.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.