title: Exploring relationships among distress, psychological growth, motivation, and physical activity among transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine relationships among transplant-specific psychological growth and distress, motivational regulations and health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) among transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 138; Mage = 48 years; 58% male), who were primarily heart, liver, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, completed scientifically-supported questionnaires. The associations among transplant-specific emotional health, motivation, and HEPA were examined in a path model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the path model (Χ(2)(3) = 2.12, RMSEA = 0.02, CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.04), distress was significantly related to introjected regulation and psychological growth was associated with autonomous self-regulation (a combined score of identified and intrinsic regulations), which was a significant correlate of HEPA (R(2)= 0.12). There were no significant direct associations between distress, psychological growth, and HEPA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transplant-specific distress and psychological growth may be factors to target in clinical intervention and rehabilitation. Furthermore, exercise motivation regulations are modifiable factors that relate to HEPA among transplant recipients and could be targeted in the development of rehabilitation strategies aimed at enhancing physical activity in this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organ transplant recipients should maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent rejection and other risk factors associated with transplantation. Physical activity is a promising lifestyle factor linked to many health benefits. This study shows how a mix of stress and growth following transplantation is related to physical activity motivation and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University , Montreal, Quebec , Canada and.
authors.forename: Bianca L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Segatto
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sabiston
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Gordon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult