Attachment Styles and Quality of Life among Liver Transplant Recipients

Objective: Attachment styles have been reported to play an important role in patient-physician relationships and quality of life (QoL) among patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, or chronic pain. However, data about the association between attachment styles and QoL among transplant recipients are scarce. In this study, we explored the relationship between transplant patients' attachment styles and their QoL and psychological well-being post-transplantation. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 60 liver transplant recipients to assess attachment styles, anxiety, depression, and QoL using validated instruments. We examined the differences among the 4 types of relationship styles - secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful, and their association with demographic, medical, and psychological factors. We conducted additional analyses to determine if attachment style predicted QoL scores. Results: Our results indicated that specific attachment styles are correlated with the presence of depression, anxiety, and QoL of life features in liver transplant recipients. Conclusion: We concluded that understanding the transplant candidates' attachment styles may be useful in identifying patients who might be at risk for experiencing depression or anxiety after liver transplantation.