The role of transplant-related stressors and social support in the development of anxiety among renal transplant recipients: the direct and buffering effects.
Several studies have shown a relevant presence of anxiety feelings among renal transplant patients. This study examines the impact of transplant-related stress and social support on anxiety. Two hypotheses were examined: H1: High transplant-related stressors and low social support are related to high anxiety (additive hypothesis); H2: Social support moderates the detrimental impact of transplant-related stressors on anxiety (buffer hypothesis). One hundred and four kidney transplant recipients (54% male), with a mean age of 50.8 (SD = 12.6), volunteered to participate in a cross-sectional study that included a face-to-face interview and several self-administered scales. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that higher transplant-related stressors are associated with higher levels of anxiety (F change (2, 92) = 17.4, p < .001, ∆R(2) = 24%), but, contrary to our prediction, social support was not directly related with anxiety. However, social support has a moderating effect on the relationship between high transplant-related stressors and anxiety (F change (1, 91) = 5.2, p < .05, ∆R(2) = 3%). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that social support has a buffering role on the patients' distress following renal transplantation and suggest that their psychological well-being could benefit from enhancing the perception of social support in post-operative care.
a University "Niccolò Cusano", Via Don Carlo Gnocchi , Rome , Italy.
Renato
R
Pisanti
Luca
L
Poli
Caterina
C
Lombardo
Linda
L
Bennardi
Luca
L
Giordanengo
Pasquale Bartolomeo
PB
Berloco
Cristiano
C
Violani
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*
anxiety; buffer effect; direct effect; social support; transplant-related stressors