The relationship between perceived stress and resilience in patients with thyroid dysfunction

Objective: To determine the perceived stress and psychological resilience level of patients with thyroid dysfunction and the relationship between them, to determine the factors affecting them and to develop recommendations for this. Materials and Methods: It consists of individuals with and without thyroid dysfunction, who applied to Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Training and Research Hospital between 01.09.2022 and 30.11.2022, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases outpatient clinic, Internal Medicine outpatient clinic and Family Medicine outpatient clinic. A sociodemographic form, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) were applied to the participants in the study. Results: A total of 173 participants, including 25 overt hypothyroidism, 38 subclinical hypothyroidism, 29 overt hyperthyroidism and 38 subclinical hyperthyroidism, and 43 control groups, were included in the study. In patients with overt hypothyroidism, the mean PSS-14 scale scores were higher and the mean CD-RISC scale scores were lower (p<0.05). On the other hand, patients with overt hyperthyroidism had lower mean PSS-14 scores and higher CD-RISC scale mean scores (p<0.05). There was no difference between perceived stress and psychological resilience levels in patients with overt hypothyroidism (p>0.05). A negative correlation was found between the other groups (p<0.05). Perceived stress scale mean scores in all participants were higher in women (p<0.05). The mean CD-RISC scale scores in all participants were higher in males (p<0.05). Participants with a family history of thyroid disease had a higher perceived stress level (p<0.05). Participants with thyroid autoantibodies had higher perceived stress levels (p<0.05). There was no difference between the participants with thyroid autoantibodies and their resilience levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Patients with hypothyroidism who were found to be positive for autoantibodies had a higher perceived stress level. It is important to develop support programs to reduce stress for these patients. At the same time, the psychological resilience level of patients with hypothyroidism was lower. For this reason, it is important to provide these patients with training programs to increase psychological resilience. Keywords: Perceived Stress, Psychological Resilience, Thyroid Dysfunction