Abstract
Background: Liver transplant recipients must adapt to significant physiological and psychological challenges following surgery, including the side effects of immunosuppressants and the burden of chronic treatment. These stressors often cause symptom distress and impair quality of life (QoL). The sense of coherence (SOC), a psychological construct reflecting an individual’s ability to perceive life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, has been associated with better coping and higher QoL. However, few studies have examined how SOC and symptom distress jointly influence QoL among liver transplant recipients.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationships among demographic and clinical characteristics, symptom distress, SOC, and QoL in liver transplant recipients, and to identify key predictors of QoL.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted. Participants were 113 adult liver transplant recipients recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Symptom Distress Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the SF-36 Quality of Life instrument. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and stepwise multiple regression.
Results: The mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 49.66 (SD = 8.11) and 48.77 (SD = 9.01), respectively. Gender and symptom severity were significant predictors of physical QoL (18.4% variance explained), while gender, SOC, and symptom severity were significant predictors of mental QoL (46.6% variance explained).
Conclusion: Gender, symptom distress, and SOC significantly influence both physical and mental QoL in liver transplant recipients. Clinical interventions should focus on reducing symptom distress and enhancing patients’ SOC to improve overall QoL following liver transplantation.
Notes
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Sigma Membership
Lambda Beta at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Quality of Life, Quality of Life--Evaluation, Liver Transplantation, Transplant Recipients, Transplant Recipients--Psychosocial Factors, Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity, Health Inequities, Sense of Coherence
Recommended Citation
Wu, Jyun-Sian; Chang, Yu-Ling; Weng, Li-Chueh; and Chen, Kang-Hua, "Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 51.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/51
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-24
Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Liver transplant recipients must adapt to significant physiological and psychological challenges following surgery, including the side effects of immunosuppressants and the burden of chronic treatment. These stressors often cause symptom distress and impair quality of life (QoL). The sense of coherence (SOC), a psychological construct reflecting an individual’s ability to perceive life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, has been associated with better coping and higher QoL. However, few studies have examined how SOC and symptom distress jointly influence QoL among liver transplant recipients.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationships among demographic and clinical characteristics, symptom distress, SOC, and QoL in liver transplant recipients, and to identify key predictors of QoL.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted. Participants were 113 adult liver transplant recipients recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Symptom Distress Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the SF-36 Quality of Life instrument. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and stepwise multiple regression.
Results: The mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 49.66 (SD = 8.11) and 48.77 (SD = 9.01), respectively. Gender and symptom severity were significant predictors of physical QoL (18.4% variance explained), while gender, SOC, and symptom severity were significant predictors of mental QoL (46.6% variance explained).
Conclusion: Gender, symptom distress, and SOC significantly influence both physical and mental QoL in liver transplant recipients. Clinical interventions should focus on reducing symptom distress and enhancing patients’ SOC to improve overall QoL following liver transplantation.
Description
In summary, gender and symptom severity were key predictors of the physical component of QoL, explaining 18.4% of the total variance, while gender, sense of coherence, and symptom severity were significant predictors of the mental component of QoL, explaining 46.6% of the total variance. The results may serve as a reference for developing targeted interventions to enhance QoL among liver transplant recipients based on these influencing factors.