What motivates people to donate a kidney whilst still alive? : a social psychological perspective of altruism

Abstract

Many humans tend to spend a lot of time in their lives helping others. Some take their helping behaviours further, and decide to donate an organ, such as a kidney, whilst they are still alive. This qualitative study aims to understand what motivates living donors to donate one of their kidneys, as an individual act of altruism. Participants were recruited through the Transplant Support Group (Malta). The sample constituted of three female donors who donated a kidney to a blood-related recipient, and two male donors who donated a kidney to a friend. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analysed by thematic analysis. The three main themes that emerged from the study were: i) being in the world of the suffering other, ii) the bond with the patient suffering from kidney failure, and iii) the donor's disposition. Findings revealed that the primary aim of the act of organ donation, for these donors was to relieve the other person from suffering. Nevertheless, all the participants also had their own personal interest. The outcome of this study can be useful in guiding the process of consent for live donors.