SOCIAL SUPPORT AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IN HEMODIALYSIS ADHERENCE

Previous conclusions regarding the role of social support in hemodialy sis adherence are inconsistent, suggesting that other factors may mode rate this relationship. Using the Five-Factor Model of Personality, we examined the hypothesis that conscientiousness would interact with so cial support in predicting fluid-intake and medication adherence in a sample of 56 chronic hemodialysis patients. Hierarchical regression an alyses (controlling for demographic, clinical, and other personality v ariables) revealed a significant interaction between social support an d conscientiousness. However inconsistent with prediction, high suppor t among patients with low conscientiousness was associated with poorer fluid-intake adherence, while support had little effect on fluid-inta ke adherence among high conscientiousness patients. No main or interac tive effects were found for support or conscientiousness on a measure of medication adherence.