Life Satisfaction and Psychosocial Adjustment in Lung Transplant Recipients: Work, Family, and Sexual Life

Lung transplantation (LTx) significantly improves survival in end-stage pulmonary "disease" but its impact on life satisfaction and psychosocial adjustment is still underexplored. This study aimed to assess global life satisfaction and satisfaction with work, family life, and sexual life among lung transplant recipients.

Fifty adults after LTx were interviewed using Polish-language instruments (validated where available), including the SWLS, Satisfaction with Job Scale, a widely used Polish Family Satisfaction Scale, and the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. Pearson's correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple linear regression were performed to examine associations and predictors of life satisfaction.

The mean SWLS score indicated high overall life satisfaction (M = 26.90, SD = 5.38). Sexual satisfaction correlated significantly with global life satisfaction (r = 0.413, p = 0.007). Family and work satisfaction showed positive but non-significant trends. Gender comparisons revealed no significant differences in life satisfaction or its domains. Multiple regression showed that family-related satisfaction (β = 0.361, p = 0.013) and sexual satisfaction (β = 0.365, p = 0.013) were significant predictors of life satisfaction, explaining 33% of its variance. Time since LTx and gender were not significant predictors.

Findings highlight the central role of interpersonal well-being in life satisfaction after lung transplantation. Satisfaction with family and intimate relationships emerged as key factors supporting psychosocial adjustment. This underscores the need for comprehensive post-transplant care addressing relational and sexual well-being, beyond physical recovery.