the relationship between social support and psychological well-being among chronic hemodialysis patients

Objectives: chronic kidney disease (ckd) is a non-communicable disease affecting millions worldwide. it imposes significant physical, economic, psychological, and social burdens on patients and healthcare providers. this study aimed to determine the levels of psychological well-being and social support among individuals undergoing hemodialysis, and to investigate the correlation between these two variables.methods: a descriptive correlational study design was employed at the al-amal dialysis center in kirkuk city, iraq, from november 20, 2024, to may 30, 2025. a non-probability purposive sample of 260 patients with ckd was recruited. data were collected using a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic characteristics, the 12-item general health questionnaire (ghq-12), and the social support scale for healthcare providers. results: most participants were male (56.2%), aged 60-69 years (32.4%), had low educational attainment (27.3%), and reported barely sufficient economic status (49.2%). most patients demonstrated moderate perceived social support (63%) and psychological well-being. significant relationships were observed between educational level, marital status, and perceived social support. furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between overall psychological well-being and social support (r=0.27, p=0.001).discussion: this study found that most chronic hemodialysis patients experienced moderate perceived social support and psychological well-being. significant relationships were identified between educational level, marital status, and social support. importantly, higher levels of social support were significantly associated with better psychological well-being in ckd.