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Predictors of quality of life in individuals with end stage renal disease
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to examine the role of posttraumatic growth in determining quality of life outcomes for patients with a chronic medical condition. Predictors of quality of life were examined for 65 hemodialysis patients with End Stage Renal Disease, 82% of whom were Caucasian, 14% African American, 3% Hispanic, and 2% Native American. Multiple regression analyses were performed in which depressive symptomatology, posttraumatic growth, gender, interval since diagnosis, nutritional status, optimism, and social support were examined as main effects and moderators. Depressive symptomatology was associated with better quality of life when controlling for other variables. Optimism moderated the relationship between depressive symptomatology and quality of life, such that individuals high in optimism and depressive symptomatology had quality of life scores similar to scores obtained by those reporting few depressive symptoms. Similarly, there was a trend toward posttraumatic growth moderating the relationship between depressive symptomatology and quality of life, such that individuals high in posttraumatic growth and depressive symptomatology had quality of life scores similar to those obtained by individuals reporting few depressive symptoms. An exploratory analysis provided evidence that depressive symptomatology and optimism were positively associated with posttraumatic growth in this group. Findings suggest that perceptions of growth, or benefit finding, may be especially beneficial for patients prone to depression. Treatment implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
McDonald, Kristen L, "Predictors of quality of life in individuals with end stage renal disease" (2008). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI3325142.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI3325142