A Theoretical Account for Mature Adults Reluctance to Register as Organ Donors

• In Event: Aging and Health Communication

Abstract

Mature adults (age 50-64) make up a large proportion of organ transplant recipients and waiting list candidates, yet are underrepresented in terms of actual donors. Understanding the reasons why mature adults fail to register as deceased organ donors is critical in achieving the goal of increasing the actionable supply of organs available for transplant. Two theoretical models, the noncognitive model (Morgan, Stephenson, Harrison, Afifi, & Long, 2008) and vested interest theory (Sivacek & Crano, 1982), are employed in the current study in an attempt to understand intentions to donate in a sample of adults. Results indicate that after partitioning the variance explained by bodily integrity, ick, jinx, and medical mistrust, the age myth accounted for attitudes toward registering as an organ donor among non-registered adults. Similarly, the age myth accounted for additional variance than that accounted for by salience, self-efficacy, and stake. Results are discussed with an emphasis on the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

Authors

• Brian L. Quick, U of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign

• Tobias Reynolds-Tylus, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Ashley Anker, U of Buffalo - SUNY

• Thomas Hugh Feeley, U of Buffalo