Occupational Activity After Renal Transplantation vs Quality of Life, Personality Profile, and Stress Coping Styles

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2020-10, Vol.52 (8), p.2423-2429
• Main Authors: Grubman-Nowak, Marta, Jeżewska, Maria, Szafran-Dobrowolska, Joanna, Ślizień, Alicja Dębska, Renke, Marcin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Personality; Quality of Life - psychology; Return to Work - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.03.040

Kidney transplantation (KT) increases the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic kidney disease. Employment is one the objective indicators of KT success. The aim of the presented study was to assess the psychological predispositions of KT and hemodialysis (HD) patients, such as stress coping styles, chosen personality features, and their relationship with employment and QoL. One hundred and sixty-one persons were examined, 101 after KT, and 60 HD patients. The following methods were applied: NEO-FFI Personality Inventory; Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS); WHOQoL-BREF; and general survey, measuring sociodemographic data and work experience. In the KT group, 58 persons were employed and 43 were unemployed. HD patients were mostly unemployed, with only 15 persons working. Significant differences were identified between the results of the following variables: WHOQoL environmental scale (employed m= 16.8, standard deviation [SD] = 3; unemployed m= 15, SD = 2.8); extraversion (employed m = 6.7, SD = 2; unemployed m = 5.6, SD = 2); somatic WHOQoL scale (HD m = 12.2, SD = 2.7; KT m = 14.2, SD = 3.5). In the KT group, the following correlations were identified: extraversion with contact seeking strategy (r = 0.553), agreeableness (r = 0.245), and conscientiousness (r = 0.384); agreeableness with conscientiousness (r = 0.336). In the HD group, the following correlations were identified: task-oriented style with conscientiousness (r = 0.474); avoidance-oriented style with conscientiousness (r = -0.466); contact seeking with extraversion (r = 0.402) and agreeableness (r = 0.469). The following conclusions were reached: Social competence, such as seeking and maintaining contacts, positively translates to features connected with occupational activity. Social skills strengthen the organization of healthier environment and increase QoL. Employed patients have higher social skills and QoL. •The results of the presented research confirm that there is a specific psychological profile that may facilitate going back to work after kidney transplantation.•The results of such research may be useful in creating rehabilitation programs for the patients in the process of preparation for kidney transplantation and going back to professional activity after the operation.•Such knowledge may also help recognize patients with lower social skills and help prepare individual programs of psychological support during the pre- and post-transplant period.•Additionally,