Social – Personal Relationships – KidneyPal

Personal Relationships

social domain

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SOCIAL

In the Social Domain, the sociodemographics that were moderately correlated were age, educational attainment, occupational status, and household income. These four factors had a stronger relationship to social quality of life (QoL) compared to the other variables, which showed only weak correlations.

These factors may contribute to stronger social well-being due to their influence on access to support networks, communication skills, and opportunities for social participation. For instance, higher education can enhance interpersonal abilities, employment fosters daily interaction and structure, and sufficient income allows for greater engagement in community or family activities. While not significantly influential on their own, these factors collectively help shape more stable and supportive social environments, which are crucial for individuals undergoing long-term treatment.

Personal Relationships

The emotional and social connection individuals have with other people, including family, friends, and partners (WHO, 1996).

General Interventions

(For age, sex, marital status, household income, comorbidities)

1. Express yourself.

Knocks down communication barriers and allows for closer bonds and understanding between you and your loved ones (Baracamonte, 2019).

2. Make space for normalcy, such as doing self-care activities by participating in social activities.

Having family and friends around to help, share meals and just talk with you can allow you to remain connected to the world beyond the treatment (Barcamonte, 2019).

3. Educate your partner about hemodialysis.

This makes them understand how they can help you better (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

Educational Attainment-Based: Lower Formal Education

1. Participate in guided intergenerational storytelling workshops

Sharing life stories fosters emotional bonding and resilience (Ye et al., 2025).

2. Use pictorial or role-playing “feelings cards” to express emotions

A low-barrier method to enhance emotional connection with family (Silva et al., 2016).

3. Pair with a “relationship buddy” from support groups

Promotes trust and shared experiences in a structured but accessible format (Silva et al., 2016).

Educational Attainment-Based: Higher Formal Education

1. Facilitate structured “meaningful chat” sessions

Promotes deeper sharing and emotional connection (Ye et al., 2025).

2. Lead peer-led relationship workshops (e.g., active listening)

Trains communication skills and peer support (Smith & Lee, 2018)

3. Organize joint planning sessions for dialysis-friendly outings

Shared goals reinforce cooperation and social engagement (Hoang et al., 2022).

Household Income Based: High Income

1. Arrange professional couples retreats with counseling

Structured settings support relationship repair and growth (Ye et al., 2025).

2. Join curated social clubs for chronic illness peers

Structured settings support relationship repair and growth (Ye et al., 2025).

3. Invest in family legacy projects (e.g., photo albums)

Encourages meaningful collaboration and emotional legacy (Ye et al., 2025).

Household Income Based: Low Income

1. Host free “tea-time” relationship groups at dialysis centers

Builds connection via shared, low-cost social time (Hoang et al., 2022).

2. Provide free communication tool kits (cards, dice)

Low-tech aids relationship-building activities (Silva et al., 2016).

3. Implement volunteer “phone-pal” check-in programs

Offers companionship and peer-to-peer support without cost (Silva et al., 2016).

Occupational Status-Based: Employed

1. Request flexible work arrangements.

To reduce fatigue and preserve energy and time for social interactions (Alshraifeen et al., 2020).

2. Utilize online health communities to maintain connections.

To enrich emotional and informational networks, especially when on-the-job fatigue limits in-person interaction (van der Eijk et al., 2013).

3. Include family and workplace in support interventions.

This helps improve connection across home and work environments (Razavi Toosi et al., 2021).

Occupational Status-Based: Unemployed

1. Join peer support groups.

This helps share experiences, receive emotional support, and build meaningful connections with others undergoing hemodialysis (van der Eijk et al., 2013).

2. Participate in structured social activities (e.g., theater, art).

This improves depression scores and self-esteem in hemodialysis patients, enhancing social connectedness (Eren et al. 2008).

3. Use online health communities.

This expands social networks, and connects patients with others in similar situations (van der Eijk et al., 2013).

References

World Health Organization. (1996). Promoting health through schools: Report of a WHO expert committee on comprehensive school health education and promotion (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 870). World Health Organization.
Bracamonte, H. (2019, March 25). Maintaining Personal Relationships While on Dialysis. Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center. https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/news/maintaining-personal-relationships-while-on-dialysis/
National Kidney Foundation. (2024, December 4). National Kidney Foundation. https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/6-tips-to-help-you-date-dialysis
Ye, Y. et al. (2025). Effects of interpersonal relationships and forgiveness on post-traumatic growth in hemodialysis patients. BMC Nephrology, 26, 212.
Silva, S. M. et al. (2016). Social support of adults and elderly with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. Revista Latino‑Americana de Enfermagem, 24, e2752.
Smith, J., & Lee, A. (2018). Peer-mentor programs in dialysis: Enhanced self-efficacy, social support, and quality of life. BMC Nephrology, 19(1), 14–22.
Hoang, V. L., Green, T., & Bonner, A. (2022). Examining social support, psychological status and health-related quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis. Journal of Renal Care, 48, 102–111.
Alshraifeen, A., Al‑Rawashdeh, S., Alnuaimi, K., et al. (2020). Social support predicted quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis treatment: A cross‑sectional survey. Nursing Open, 7(6), 1517–1525. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.533
van der Eijk, M., Faber, M. J., Aarts, J. W. M., Kremer, J. A. M., Munneke, M., & Bloem, B. R. (2013). Using Online Health Communities to Deliver Patient-Centered Care to People With Chronic Conditions. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(6), e115. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2476.
Razavi Toosi, S. M., et al. (2021). The effectiveness of intervention based on the transactional model on improving coping efforts and stress moderators in hemodialysis patients in Tehran: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nephrology, 22, Article 45.
Eren, İ., Örti, E., & Şahin, M. (2008). Planning a social activity to improve psychological well‑being and quality of life of hemodialysis patients: A pilot study. Depression and Anxiety, 25(2), 98–106.