Associations between depression, psychological resilience, and gratitude levels of patients with chronic diseases: Implications for medical social work practice

This cross-sectional study aims to examine the relationships between psychological resilience, gratitude, and depression levels of patients with chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular, and kidney diseases) in the context of medical social work practice. A survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The sample consisted of 160 patients with chronic diseases who were regularly followed up for treatment in the polyclinics of Oltu State Hospital and Erzurum City Hospital operating in Türkiye. The hierarchical logistic regression model was used in the analysis of the data. According to the results, psychological resilience was the strongest predictor of depression in chronic patients, even when some sociodemographic and disease-related variables were controlled. While gratitude was found to have depression risk-reducing effects, some of this may be related to age. Also, high dependence levels and previous depression diagnosis were determined as important risk factors against depression. Medical social workers may benefit from interventions aimed at increasing psychological resilience and gratitude in the prevention and treatment of depression in patients with chronic diseases.