BACKGROUND: With the great development of liver transplantation in China, long survival and quality of life after liver transplantation have been matters of growing interest. This study was designed to investigate the impact of personality and coping skills on the quality of life after liver transplantation.
METHODS: Fifty-five outpatients who had been followed up after liver transplantation at our center were assessed by general quality of life inventory (GQOLI-74), a medical coping modes questionnaire (MCMQ), an eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ), and a general condition questionnaire (GCQ).
RESULTS: The score for material well-being was the lowest (63.22±12.67) and for psychological well-being the highest (73.43±12.60) in 4 dimensions of  the GQOLI in post transplantation patients. Their main coping method was confrontation (21.40±3.70). The main characteristics of their personality were extraversation (E score 12.96±4.13) and neuroticism (N score 8.20±4.90). The total score of the GQOLI was positively correlated with confrontation and E score, and it was negatively correlated with acceptance and N score. The physical well-being positively associated with the E score. The psychological well-being was positively correlated with confrontation and L score, and was negatively correlated with acceptance, P and N score. Social well-being was positively correlated with confrontation and E score, and was negatively correlated with acceptance and N score. Material well-being was not correlated with coping methods and personality.
CONCLUSION: The quality of life in post liver transplantation patients is associated with their psychological characteristics.