title: Appraisal of transplant-related stressors, coping strategies, and psychosocial adjustment following kidney transplantation.
abstract: This study examined the relations between appraisal of transplant-related stressors, coping, and adjustment dimensions following kidney transplantation (KT). Two models were tested: (1) the main effects model proposing that stress appraisal and coping strategies are directly associated with adjustment dimensions; and (2) the moderating model of stress proposing that each coping strategy interacts with stress appraisal. Importantly, there is a lack of research examining the two models simultaneously among recipients of solid organ transplantation. A total of 174 KT recipients completed the questionnaires. Predictors of post-transplant adjustment included appraisal of transplant-related stressors and coping strategies (task-, emotion-, and avoidance-focused). Adjustment dimensions were psychological distress, worries about the transplant, feelings of guilt, fear of disclosure of transplant, adherence, and responsibility for the functioning of the new organ. The main and moderating effects were tested with regression analyses. Appraisal of transplant-related stressors and emotion-oriented coping were related to all adjustment dimensions, except of adherence and responsibility. Task-oriented coping was positively related to responsibility. Avoidance-oriented coping was negatively correlated with adherence. Only 1 out of 18 hypothesized interactive terms was significant, yielding a synergistic interaction between appraisal of transplant-related stressors and emotion-oriented coping on the sense of guilt. The findings have the potential to inform interventions promoting psychosocial adjustment among KT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, University Niccolò Cusano, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pisanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.|Trauma, Health, & Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luszczynska
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Organ Transplant Unit Paride Stefanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bennardi
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordanengo
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Organ Transplant Unit Paride Stefanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale Bartolomeo
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Berloco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Violani
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: coping strategies; kidney; moderator; organ transplantation; stress appraisal