Self-esteem, Resilience and Quality of Life of Persons With Rheumatoid Arthritis at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, resilience, and quality of life of persons with rheumatoid arthritis. A cross sectional survey was the design used for the study. Data were collected from 117 persons receiving treatment for rheumatoid arthritis at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital using a purposive and convenient sampling technique. Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC-10), and World Health Organisation Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-Bref) were the scales used for the data collection. The findings from the study indicated that self-esteem, resilience, and quality of life levels in the participants were moderate to high. The results also revealed that self-esteem and resilience positively related to the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study also found resilience to be a significant mediator in the relationship between self-esteem and quality of life of persons with rheumatoid arthritis at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. It was concluded that a relationship exists between self-esteem, resilience, and quality of life. The study, therefore, recommended that policy makers on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and medical practitioners should not only focus on the physiological treatment of arthritis patients but should take into consideration their psychological and mental health since these could also affect the progression of the disease.