Does conscientiousness increase quality of life among renal transplant recipients?

2014 IJRSP – Volume 3 Issue 2

Author/s:

Kamran, Fatima*
University of the Punjab, Pakistan (fatimakamran24@yahoo.com)

Abstract:

A longitudinal study comprising of renal transplant recipients (RTRs) was carried out in Lahore, Pakistan across 15 months. The recipients with healthy graft functioning were recruited from government and private renal clinics and assessed at three times. The aim was to investigate if conscientiousness as a personality trait influences their satisfaction with quality of life (QoL). Conscientiousness is mostly associated with health behaviors and in particular adherence. An improved QoL is associated with self-care, health behaviors and medication adherence post-transplant. However, there is little research evidence about the role of personality traits in health related behaviors and QoL in transplant population. The study found most recipients to be conscientious with a consistent pattern of conscientiousness across three waves, confirming its stability as an enduring personality trait. Regression analysis indicated that except wave 1, conscientiousness appeared to be a significant predictor of QoL satisfaction at wave 2 & 3, suggesting a contribution of this personality trait in increasing QoL satisfaction among RTRs. The findings suggest that conscientiousness influences QoL, reflecting a positive contribution of this personality trait in influencing subjective well-being and overall QoL.

Keywords: Quality of Life (QoL); life satisfaction; Renal Transplant Recipients (RTRs); personality; conscientiousness; transplantation; kidney transplant; longitudinal study

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsp.2013.466

*Corresponding Author