Quality of life and coping strategies in Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients: A pilot study

Coping strategies used by Multiple Sclerosis patients play a key role in adjusting to the disease and affect their overall quality of life. This relationship has been investigated in developed countries, but none has been studied in developing ones such as Lebanon. Factors including barriers to health care delivery, economic pressure and political instability influence which coping strategies are used and often increases the use of negative coping mechanisms. The current pilot study explored the association between different coping strategies with quality of life and depression, anxiety, fatigue and social support in 34 Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients. Results indicated that Multiple Sclerosis patients using positive coping strategies had significantly higher scores of quality of life (U=46, p=.038) and social support (U=33.5, p=.011), and lower depression (U=44, p=.030) and anxiety levels (U=46.5, p=.038) as compared to those using negative coping strategies. Specifically, escape avoidance coping strategy was associated with poor quality of life scores (r=-.609, p<.0001) and high levels of depression (r=.534, p=.001), anxiety (r=.530, p=.001), and fatigue (r=.401, p=.019). Comprehensive assessment of Multiple Sclerosis taking into account coping strategies is needed to develop proper therapeutic interventions which increase quality of life. Future studies are required to confirm these results.