Impact of chronic kidney disease on illness perceptions, coping, self-efficacy, psychological distress and quality of life

ABSTRACT

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) negatively impacts psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL). Underpinned by the Common Sense Model (CSM), this study evaluated the potential mediating role of self-efficacy, coping styles and psychological distress on the relationship between illness perceptions and QoL in patients living with CKD. Participants were 147 people with stage 3–5 kidney disease. Measures included eGFR, illness perceptions, coping styles, psychological distress, self-efficacy and QoL. Correlational analyses were performed, followed by regression modelling. Poorer QoL was associated with greater distress, engagement in maladaptive coping, poorer illness perceptions and lower self-efficacy. Regression analysis revealed that illness perceptions predicted QoL, with psychological distress acting as a mediator. The proportion of variance explained was 63.8%. These findings suggest that psychological interventions are likely to enhance QoL in CKD, if they target the mediating psychological processes associated with illness perceptions and psychological distress.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic kidney disease
• common sense model
• illness perceptions
• coping
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants for the support and interest in our research.

Disclosure statement

SRK has served as a speaker, a consultant and an advisory board member for AbbVie Pty Ltd and Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd. He is a current Medical Advisory Committee member for Glutagen Pty Ltd.

DC has received grant monies for research from Eli Lilly, Janssen Cilag, Roche, Allergen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Lundbeck, Astra Zeneca, Hospira; Travel Support and Honoraria for Talks and Consultancy from Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astra Zeneca, Lundbeck, Janssen Cilag, Pfizer, Organon, Sanofi-Aventis, Wyeth, Hospira, Servier, Seqirus and is a current or past Advisory Board Member for Lu AA21004: Lundbeck; Varenicline: Pfizer; Asenapine: Lundbeck; Aripiprazole LAI: Lundbeck; Lisdexamfetamine: Shire; Lurasidone: Servier; Brexpiprazole: Lundbeck; Treatment Resistant Depression: LivaNova; Cariprazine: Seqirus. He is a founder of the Optimal Health Program (OHP), and holds 50% of the IP for OHP, and is part owner of Clarity Healthcare. He is on the scientific advisory of The Mental Health Foundation of Australia. He does not knowingly have stocks or shares in any pharmaceutical company.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Kidney Health Australia [KHA2018-DC]; Australian Government’s Collaborative Research Networks [2012013000549]