Social Support, Optimism, and Self-Efficacy Predict Physical and Emotional Well-Being After Bone Marrow Transplantation

Abstract

This study examined whether three psychosocial variables (social support, self-efficacy, and optimism) assessed prior to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) predicted physical and emotional well-being one year post-BMT. Data were gathered on 87 participants enrolled in a multicenter, randomized trial examining the impact of exvivo T-cell depletion on disease-free survival in leukemia patients receiving allogeneic BMT. Social support, optimism, and selfefficacy significantly predicted emotional and physical well-being one year post-BMT, controlling for age, gender, maximum grade of acute GVHD, and treatment arm. Attention to psychosocial factors prior to BMT and during recovery appears critical for physical and mental well-being, especially considering the influence of psychosocial variables independent of medical risk factors.

Key Words:

• Psychosocial predictors
• bone marrow transplantation
• health-related quality of life
• social support
• optimism
• self-efficacy