Social support mediates the relationship between illness perception and psychosocial adaptation among young and middle-aged kidney transplant recipients in China

Abstract

BackgroundNo research has yet been done on social support’s influence on the association between illness perception and psychosocial adaptation among young and middle-aged kidney transplant recipients in China. Accordingly, it remains unclear how medical personnel can assist patients in successfully adjusting to the early postoperative period and improving their health.ObjectiveThis study sought to explore the influence of illness perception and social support on the psychosocial adaptation of young and middle-aged recipients of kidney transplants in China during the early postoperative period.MethodsThis study adopted a cross-sectional design. The study included 236 young and middle-aged kidney transplant recipients from a tertiary hospital in China. Demographic and disease-related data were collected. Additionally, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-Report, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to assess participants’ psychosocial adaptation, illness perception, and social support, respectively. The model was examined using descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, and the PROCESS Macro in SPSS 26.0.ResultsA total of 176 (74.56%) participants reported an average psychosocial adaptation score >50, which is relatively negative. Marital status, education level, residence, per capita monthly income (in Chinese yuan), medical insurance, work status, post-transplant time, body mass index, creatinine status, and complications were all related to psychosocial adaptation (p < 0.05). The more negative their illness perception and the worse their social support, the worse the psychosocial adaptation of young and middle-aged kidney transplant recipients. Further, the effect of illness perception on psychosocial adaptation was partially mediated by social support (36.56%).ConclusionIn general, the psychosocial adaption level of young and middle-aged kidney transplant recipients was negative during the early postoperative period. Healthcare teams should assist patients in building a positive illness perception shortly following kidney transplantation, while also providing psychological care and support to help them cope with the onset of psychosocial issues.

Association between illness perception and social alienation among maintenance hemodialysis patients: The mediating role of fear of progression

“…Similar to previous research [ 46 , 47 ], this study revealed a positive correlation between IP and social alienation. Illness cognition is a key factor in the interaction between psychology and illness.…”

The effect of illness perception on psychosocial adjustment of patients with breast cancer and their spouses: actor–partner independence model

“…Similar to previous studies, we found that patients’ perception of illness was significantly correlated with the level of psychosocial adjustment to illness [ 37 ]. Positive perception of illness can improve patients’ self-efficacy and self-management ability, promote emotional and psychosocial adjustment, and improve their quality of life [ 38 , 39 ].…”

Early Post-Transplant Adaptation Experience in Young and Middle-Aged People With Kidney Transplant in China: A Qualitative Study

“…34 Previous researchers have also pointed out that the return to work after kidney transplantation is one of the most important medical indicators of health; in order to ensure the stability of the immune system, it is usually not encouraged to return to work in the first 6 months after the operation. 8,13 One study found that only 38.3% of kidney transplant patients returned to work within 1 year after surgery. 35 The findings of this study suggest that this maladaptive experience of functional adaptation challenges to family roles and return-to-work/study limitations is more common in the early homebound period after kidney transplantation.…”

“…38 Health care professionals can provide appropriate spiritual support to promote positive thinking and to facilitate their passage through the dark moments of the post-operative period. 8 Moreover, kidney transplant teams can provide adequate support (eg, educational support, health and psychological counseling) and collaborate with families, hospitals, and communities to create a favorable support system for people with kidney transplantation.…”

“…A Chinese study on 236 persons with ki-dney transplant found that patients’ psychosocial adaptation level was relatively negative 1 year post-operatively. 8 A retrospective study revealed that the 1-year readmission rate after kidney transplantation was 43.2%, primarily owing to post-operative infection, rejection, and symptoms. 9 Veltkamp et al 10 reported that persons with kidney transplant develop numerous symptom clusters that adversely affect their health.…”