TITLE:
Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Personality in German Heart Transplant Patients
AUTHORS:
Romina Müller, Denis Köhler, Julia Henning, Jan Josupeit, Frederic Neher, Susanne Hagen
KEYWORDS:
Heart Transplantation, Subjective Well-Being, Quality of Life, Personality, Immunosuppression
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.14 No.4,
September
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Heart transplantation constitutes not only a profound physiological impact but also imposes immense psychological strain, necessitating a deeper comprehension and optimal promotion of subjective well-being. Objective: Quantitative data collection of relationships between the subjective well-being of heart transplant patients and selected influencing factors was investigated. Material and Methods: In a random sample of 97 heart transplant patients, quality of life was measured with the MLDL, subjective well-being with the HSWBS, social support with the SUCE-4, social activities, personality traits with the BFI-10 and the UGTS, as well as disease management according to the EFK, and physical complaints with the ERSD-SC TM were determined using an online survey. Results: In addition to physical well-being, social life, personality traits, the type of disease (chronic or spontaneous), and functional capacity have a significant impact on subjective well-being. Conclusion: In addition to physical well-being, psychosocial monitoring should also be established in transplantation medicine, and the long-term involvement of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and social workers should be considered. After a heart transplantation, caring for the mind is just as essential as caring for the body, as subjective well-being is a product of the reciprocal influences of physical and psychological states.