Body-image, quality of life and psychological distress: a comparison between kidney transplant patients and a matching healthy sample

Yaron Yagil, Shulamit Geller, Sigal Levy, Yael Sidi, Shiri Aharoni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to assess the uniqueness of the condition of kidney transplant recipients in comparison to a sample of matching healthy peers in relation to body-image dissatisfaction and identification, quality of life and psychological distress. Participants were 45 kidney transplant recipients who were under follow-up care at a Transplant Unit of a major Medical Center, and a sample of 45 matching healthy peers. Measures were taken using self-report questionnaires [Body-Image Ideals Questionnaire (BIIQ), Body Identification Questionnaire (BIQ), Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), and the SF-12]. The major findings were the following: (i) kidney transplant recipients reported lower levels of quality of life and higher levels of PsD when compared to their healthy peers; (ii) no difference in body-image dissatisfaction was found between the two studied groups; (iii) significant correlations between body-image dissatisfaction quality of life and PsD were found only in the kidney transplant recipients. The kidney transplantation condition has a moderating effect in the association between body-image dissatisfaction PsD but not in the association between body-image dissatisfaction and quality of life; (iv) kidney transplant recipients experienced higher levels of body identification than did their healthy peers. Taken together, these findings highlight the unique condition of kidney transplant recipients, as well as the function that body-image plays within the self.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)424-433
Number of pages10
JournalPsychology, Health and Medicine
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Apr 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Kidney transplantation
  • body-image
  • end stage renal disease
  • psychological distress
  • quality of life

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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