Relationship Between Self-Perceived Health, Vitality, and Posttraumatic Growth in Liver Transplant Recipients

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology Vol. 10; p. 1367
• Main Authors: Funuyet-Salas, Jesús, Martín-Rodríguez, Agustín, Borda-Mas, Mercedes, Avargues-Navarro, María Luisa, Gómez-Bravo, Miguel Ángel, Romero-Gómez, Manuel, Conrad, Rupert, Pérez-San-Gregorio, María Ángeles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 11-06-2019
• Subjects: liver transplantation; patients; posttraumatic growth; Psychology; self-perceived health; vitality; posttraumatic growth; vitality; liver transplantation; patients; self-perceived health
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01367

Our objective was to analyze the differences in posttraumatic growth in 240 liver transplant recipients based on two factors. First, self-perceived health: better (Group 1 = G
) and worse (Group 2 = G
). Second, vitality: more (Group 3 = G
) and less (Group 4 = G
). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, SF-36 Health Survey (Item 2) and SF-12 Health Survey (vitality dimension) were used. Firstly, analyzing main effects recipients with better (G
) compared to worse (G
) self-perceived health, showed greater posttraumatic growth. Interaction effects were found on essential posttraumatic growth domains such as new possibilities (
= 0.040), personal strength (
= 0.027), and appreciation of life (
= 0.014). Statistically significant differences showed that among transplant recipients with worse self-perceived health (G
), those with more vitality had higher levels on abovementioned posttraumatic growth dimensions. However, in transplant recipients with better self-perceived health (G
) respective dimensions were not significantly influenced by the level of vitality. Among the recipients with less vitality (G
), those with better self-perceived health showed higher scores on abovementioned posttraumatic growth dimensions. We conclude that positive self-perceived health might compensate for a lack of vitality as well as a high level of vitality may compensate for negative self-perceived health regarding the development of crucial aspects of posttraumatic growth after liver transplantation.