Resilience in patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure: Evaluation in terms of depression, anxiety, traumatic growths

Abstract

Background: Dialysis treatment for kidney failure is a condition that can lead to long-term psychiatric problems. Resilience is the ability to adapt to stressful life events. High resilience can alleviate the stress caused by illness and dialysis treatment.

Aims: This study was conducted to determine the level of psychological resilience and ego resilience in patients with renal failure receiving dialysis treatment and to investigate the relationship between anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic growth.

Design: A correlational cross-sectional design.

Methods: A convenience sample of 75 patients who had been undergoing hemodialysis therapy participated in this study. Data were collected using the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) Posttraumatic growth inventory (PGI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Ego-resilience scale (ERS). Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used.

Results: It was determined that patients with renal failure receiving dialysis treatment had moderate resilience and ego resilience, severe depressive symptoms, moderate anxiety, and post-traumatic growth scores. There was a negative correlation between RSA total score and trait anxiety scale and BDI score (r = 0.497 p = 0.001; r = 0.497 p = 0.001), while a positive correlation was found between RSA total score and ego resilience and post-traumatic growth score (r = 0.530 p = 0.001; r = 0.497 p = 0.001).

Conclusions: It was found that state anxiety, post-traumatic growth, and age were found to be effective variables on resilience. Resilience increases as post-traumatic growth and ego resilience scores increase; decreases as depressive symptoms and anxiety increase.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Renal failure; Resilience; Traumatic growths.