Helping unrelated strangers: Physical and psychological reactions to the bone marrow donation process among anonymous donors

TitleHelping unrelated strangers: Physical and psychological reactions to the bone marrow donation process among anonymous donors
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsSwitzer GE, Simmons RG, Dew MA
JournalJournal of Applied Social Psychology
Volume26
Issue6
Pagination469 - 490
Date Published42430
Accession NumberISI:A1996UC26500001
Abstract

The development of models that predict outcomes of voluntary action is important for practitioners who manage large groups of volunteers. In accordance with this goal, a path model was generated linking predonation characteristics of volunteer marrow donors to postdonation physical and psychological reactions. Questionnaire data were collected from 343 individuals registered to donate marrow to unrelated strangers at 3 time points: shortly predonation, shortly postdonation, and 1-year postdonation. Although donors had generally positive reactions to donation, a substantial minority reported ambivalence about donating, physical difficulty with donation, and negative psychological reactions postdonation. In addition, our data suggest that predonation ambivalence is a central predictor of postdonation reactions, even after other donor characteristics are taken into account. These results have practical implications for the recruitment of volunteers, and suggest important variables to be considered in evaluating potential bone marrow donors.

Short TitleHelping unrelated strangers: Physical and psychological reactions to the bone marrow donation process among anonymous donors
Notify Library Reference ID1509

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