1. Emotional self-efficacy and alexithymia may affect compliance, renal function and quality of life in kidney transplant recipients: results from a preliminary cross-sectional study
- Author
-
Jacopo Romagnoli, Paola Aceto, Carlo Lai, Gionata Spagnoletti, Silvia Lai, José Alberto Rodrigues Pedroso, Maria Paola Salerno, Valentina Pietroni, Massimiliano Luciani, Franco Citterio, Giovanni Camardese, Rosaria Calia, and Chiara Fantozzi
- Subjects
Male ,kidney transplant ,Visual analogue scale ,Cross-sectional study ,Settore MED/18 - CHIRURGIA GENERALE ,Settore MED/25 - PSCHIATRIA ,emotional regulation ,Renal function ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Affect (psychology) ,compliance ,Behavioral Neuroscience ,Alexithymia ,Quality of life ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Humans ,Affective Symptoms ,Immunosuppression Therapy ,Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ,Self-efficacy ,TRANSPLANTATION ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Kidney Transplantation ,Mental health ,Self Efficacy ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Treatment Outcome ,alexithymia ,quality of life ,Patient Compliance ,Female ,Self Report ,Psychology ,Follow-Up Studies ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Recent studies show that alexithymia may influence compliance and quality of life in different clinical situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between alexithymia or emotional self-efficacy and compliance, quality of life (QoL) and renal function in renal transplant patients. Methods Forty-three patients were enrolled during a follow-up visit (> 3 months post-transplant) and were asked to complete three self-report questionnaires (TAS-20, SF-36, RESE) to answer the following items: “In the past four weeks, how many times did you fail to take your prescribed dose?” and “How would you rate your adherence levels from 0 to 100?” (visual analogue scale). Results Alexithymia was positively correlated with non-compliance (r = .314; p = .04), and negatively with QoL dimensions. Analysis of variance confirmed that patients with high levels of alexithymia reported a negative perception of their QoL (mental health: F(1,41) = 7,6; p = .008) and lower levels of compliance (F(1,41) = 12,5; p = .001) compared with patients with low levels of alexithymia. The self-efficacy in the management of negative emotions was significantly correlated (r = − .314; p = .04) with creatinine levels and positively with the QoL (mental health: r = .421; p = .005). Discussion The inability to recognize and express emotions, as well as the ability to manage negative emotions, may influence compliance and QoL of renal transplant patients. Focused psychological support could be useful in these patients in order to increase their compliance and QoL.
- Published
- 2015