Positive and Negative Affects in Living Kidney Donors

This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the positive and negative affects and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of living kidney donors.

With the use of a cross-sectional study design and a structured questionnaire, information on the basic characteristics, positive affect, negative affect, and HRQOL of 41 living kidney donors were compared.

The negative affect in living kidney donors was similar to that of the general population, but the positive affect was slightly lower. The physical HRQOL of living kidney donors was slightly higher than that of the general population, and the mental HRQOL was similar. Female donors showed a greater positive affect than male donors. The donors who were siblings of the recipients showed a more negative affect. Donors without chronic disease and with good perceived physical health showed improved positive affect, negative affect, and mental HRQOL. Furthermore, living kidney donors with better positive and negative affects showed improved physical and mental HRQOLs.

Clinical health providers should evaluate and determine the positive affect, negative affect, and quality of life of living kidney donors, especially in men, siblings of the recipients, those with chronic disease, and those with poorer perceived physical health. Moreover, psychosocial interventions should be provided to improve these factors.