The College of Nursing examined the master’s thesis titled: “The Relationship Between Depression and Hope Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: The Mediating Role of Family Function,” submitted by the graduate student Mustafa Thamer Mahmoud, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Hassan Ali Hussein, held in the Skills Hall of the college.
The study aimed primarily to evaluate the severity levels of depressive symptoms, hope, and family function among patients undergoing hemodialysis, and to examine the nature of the correlation between depressive symptom severity and hope, as well as to investigate the mediating role of family function in this relationship within the study sample.
The findings demonstrated a statistically significant inverse correlation; higher severity of depressive symptoms was associated with a pronounced decrease in hope levels among hemodialysis patients. Furthermore, the study confirmed that family function plays a substantial and partial mediating role in this relationship, indicating that healthy family functioning is closely linked to more favorable psychological outcomes that alleviate the psychological distress and suffering accompanying chronic illness.
Based on the research findings, the study recommended the routine inclusion of periodic psychological screening within standard care protocols in hemodialysis units, the implementation of family-centered interventions with an emphasis on fostering effective emotional communication, and the full integration of psychological and family assessments as a core component of medical and nursing care provided to patients. Following an extensive scientific defense, the researcher was awarded a Master’s degree with an Excellence rating.
This study aligns directly with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by advancing psychiatric nursing and psychosocial interventions to improve the quality of comprehensive care for patients with renal failure, Goal 4 (Quality Education) through enriching academic literature with rigorous clinical research, and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by advocating equitable access to integrated mental health and psychosocial support for chronically ill individuals in healthcare institutions.
