OBJECTIVES: The psychosocial evaluation of the body concept of living kidney donors and recipients is part of a general psychosocial assessment as well as the early detection of organ integration disorders. METHODS: From 2010 to 2011 we investigated the eligibility for living kidney donation in 36 living kidney donors and 36 recipients using a semistructured clinical interview and the German version of the Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS). In addition, we used the Fragebogen zum Körperbild (FKB-20) to evaluate body concept. RESULTS: Living kidney donors and recipients differed in their body concept. Living kidney recipients described a body-centered disturbance stemming from a reduction of body-intensive activities including destabilization of body concept. CONCLUSION: The psychological coping process involved in living kidney donation demands a reconstitution of the body self. The coping/health behavior and the affective state of living kidney recipients are protective factors that influence successful organ integration.
OBJECTIVES: The psychosocial evaluation of the body concept of living kidney donors and recipients is part of a general psychosocial assessment as well as the early detection of organ integration disorders. METHODS: From 2010 to 2011 we investigated the eligibility for living kidney donation in 36 living kidney donors and 36 recipients using a semistructured clinical interview and the German version of the Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS). In addition, we used the Fragebogen zum Körperbild (FKB-20) to evaluate body concept. RESULTS: Living kidney donors and recipients differed in their body concept. Living kidney recipients described a body-centered disturbance stemming from a reduction of body-intensive activities including destabilization of body concept. CONCLUSION: The psychological coping process involved in living kidney donation demands a reconstitution of the body self. The coping/health behavior and the affective state of living kidney recipients are protective factors that influence successful organ integration.