Effect of Multiple Sclerosis on Dyadic Adjustment

This study examines the dyadic adjustment of married men and women with multiple sclerosis (MS).

This cross-sectional study consists of 40 patients with MS who were married and being followed in the neurology clinic of a university hospital. Data collection was performed by face-to-face interviews with only the participant and the researcher present. The participants filled in the Expanded Disability Status Scale, a sociodemographic form, and a dyadic adjustment scale.

The study group was 75% male, with age ranging from 27 to 65 years (mean, 44.40 ± 9.31 years). Expanded Disability Status Scale scores ranged from 0 to 7 (mean, 3.25 ± 1.94); 95% of the subjects were having relapses and remissions. Scores for patients with MS who were not considering divorce were statistically significantly higher than patients with MS who were considering divorce for dyadic adjustment (z = 3.845, P = .000), common view (z = 2.336, P = .020), endearment (z = 2.701, P = .007), and total scores (z = 3.399, P = .001).

Most of the patients with MS who participated in this study were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS with a mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3, indicating that patients had the physical ability to perform routine activities. The total dyadic adjustment scale score (107.7) is above average, indicating that dyadic adjustment was at a good level.