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Coping and psychological adjustment among people with multiple sclerosis
Marita P McCabe1, Suzanne McKern, Elizabeth McDonald
1School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. maritam@deakin.edu.au
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|March 30, 2004
Summary
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often use less effective coping strategies and experience poorer psychological adjustment compared to the general population. Educational programs promoting problem-focused coping are recommended for better adjustment to MS.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents unique challenges to psychological well-being and coping mechanisms.
- Understanding the differences in coping and adjustment between individuals with MS and the general population is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare coping styles and psychological adjustment in people with MS versus the general population.
- To investigate the influence of illness severity, duration, and social support on coping and adjustment in MS.
- To identify specific coping strategies associated with better or poorer psychological adjustment in MS.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 381 individuals with MS and 291 individuals from the general population.
- Data collection included assessments of coping styles, psychological adjustment, illness characteristics, and social support.
Main Results:
- Individuals with MS, particularly men, exhibited less problem-solving and support-seeking coping styles and poorer psychological adjustment.
- Wishful thinking, lack of problem-focused coping, and reduced social support seeking correlated with poorer adjustment in people with MS.
- Illness severity had a minimal impact on psychological adjustment, especially for men.
Conclusions:
- Findings underscore the need for educational interventions to promote adaptive, problem-focused coping strategies in individuals with MS.
- Enhancing coping mechanisms can significantly improve psychological adjustment and quality of life for those living with MS.