Is social desirability associated with symptom distress in organ transplant candidates?

Abstract

Current interpretations of social desirability include (a) the tendency to respond in a socially acceptable and desirable fashion indicating an impression management style, or (b) a characteristic reaction pattern including defensiveness, repressive coping, or self-deception. Given these interpretations, social desirability may be important in psychosocial assessments of transplant candidates considering the evaluative nature of these assessments. Indeed, transplant candidates may present themselves in a favourable fashion, minimizing any negative traits or psychological dysfunction which they perceive might prevent transplantation. Alternatively, candidates may be in such distress that defensiveness or repressive-coping helps reduce the distress. This investigation evaluates the relationship between social desirability and self-reports of symptom distress in organ transplant candidates. Candidates included 37 patients in end-stage organ failure being evaluated for transplant candidacy. Candidates completed a brief version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the SCL-90-R. Additionally, candidates were interviewer-rated on the Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation. Results indicate social desirability is a prevalent phenomenon in transplant candidates and inversely related to several dimensions of symptom distress including obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and phobic anxiety. Social desirability was unrelated to interviewer-ratings of candidates' acceptability. Future research might investigate the favourable impression/ repressive coping controversy and the debate surrounding the negative/positive aspects of social desirability.