title: The implications of body-image dissatisfaction among kidney-transplant recipients.
abstract: The role that body image plays in the psychological adjustment of kidney-transplant recipients is an understudied issue. In the current study, the association between three variables - (a) body-image dissatisfaction, (b) quality of life (QOL), and (c) psychological distress - was investigated. The research participants were 45 kidney-transplant recipients who were under follow-up care at the Transplant Unit of the Tel-Aviv Medical Center (Israel). Body image, psychological distress, and QOL were measured using self-report questionnaires [Body-Image Ideals Questionnaire (BIIQ), Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), and SF-12]. Medical and background data were collected from medical and administrative records. The findings indicated an association between higher level of body-image dissatisfaction and a decrease in several quality-of-life dimensions (role emotional, physical pain, general health, and social functioning), and with an increase in psychological distress. These findings highlight the importance of body-image dissatisfaction as a factor that is associated with QOL and psychological distress among kidney-transplant recipients. Body image warrants further attention and should be screened and treated among those who demonstrate high levels of dissatisfaction.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social Work and Department of Education , Tel-Hai College , Upper Galilee , Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagil
authors.affiliation: b School of Behavioral Sciences , Tel Aviv-Yaffo Academic College , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Shulamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.affiliation: b School of Behavioral Sciences , Tel Aviv-Yaffo Academic College , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sidi
authors.affiliation: c Organ Transplantation Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tirosh
authors.affiliation: c Organ Transplantation Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: c Organ Transplantation Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakache
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body image; kidney transplantation; psychological distress; quality of life