Exploring relationships among distress, psychological growth, motivation, and physical activity among transplant recipients

Abstract

Purpose: To examine relationships among transplant-specific psychological growth and distress, motivational regulations and health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) among transplant recipients.

Methods: Participants (N = 138; Mage = 48 years; 58% male), who were primarily heart, liver, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, completed scientifically-supported questionnaires. The associations among transplant-specific emotional health, motivation, and HEPA were examined in a path model.

Results: In the path model (Χ²(3) = 2.12, RMSEA = 0.02, CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.04), distress was significantly related to introjected regulation and psychological growth was associated with autonomous self-regulation (a combined score of identified and intrinsic regulations), which was a significant correlate of HEPA (R²= 0.12). There were no significant direct associations between distress, psychological growth, and HEPA.

Conclusion: Transplant-specific distress and psychological growth may be factors to target in clinical intervention and rehabilitation. Furthermore, exercise motivation regulations are modifiable factors that relate to HEPA among transplant recipients and could be targeted in the development of rehabilitation strategies aimed at enhancing physical activity in this population.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Organ transplant recipients should maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent rejection and other risk factors associated with transplantation.

• Physical activity is a promising lifestyle factor linked to many health benefits.

• This study shows how a mix of stress and growth following transplantation is related to physical activity motivation and behavior.

• Organ transplant
• physical activity
• post-traumatic growth
• self-determination theory

Notes

*We also ran the main analyses with general stress. The results were consistent with the findings presented in the manuscript however PTG and stress were unrelated (r = 0.05, p > 0.05) and the associations between stress and the motivation regulations were weaker when compared to those with transplant-related distress.