Endocrine Abstracts

Quality life satisfaction is important for personal resources analysis and perspectives for coping with ilness.

The aim of the study was to present a psychological portrait of a woman with Turner’s syndrome (TS) and assessing perspectives for increased well-being of such patients. The study concerns psychological aspects of TS women’s own assessment of their health and illness.

The area of interest was:

• TS patients’ own health assessment

• life quality satisfaction experienced by the above mentioned patients

• the level of Optimism Available in each patient as an important element of natural resources.

Patients and methods: 26 women with TS aged 18–25 participated in the study. All the patients have experienced many years of treatment and coping with their illness.

The evaluation was based on medical files analysis, an individual patient – doctor and patient – psychologist conversations. The information was gathered in the form of structured interview containing questions concerning health – illness aspects, current life and family situation and life aims of the women analysed. SWLS – Quality of Life Assessment Test and LOT-R Life Orientation Test were used to assess the level of optimism.

Results: The backgrounds of the patients tested varied. In general, the assessment of their own health condition was positive. Establishing a family was placed as No 1. life aim. Life contentment was high. Average results on AWLS scale were 48%. High results on AWLS scale were 44%. As concerns Optimism Available, 52% of the patients described their optimism level of medium, 28% as high and 20% as low. Optimistic patients seem more effective in coping with stress, which means a potentially better adjustment to changing life situations.

Conclusions: The behaviour and suffering levels in patients with TS are closely related to their natural resources. Proper specialist care and general social support may greatly facilitate such patients’ natural resources.