Components of the Support Networks of Multiple Sclerosis Care Partners

Care partners support many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), but little is known about the support they themselves rely on. This study sought to characterize the support networks used by MS care partners and to identify key characteristics associated with support network size.

Fifteen MS care partners completed an online survey. Individual, semistructured interviews captured care partner support network content. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficients were used to characterize associations between network size and variables of interest.

Participants were predominantly women (n = 13, 86.7%) with a mean age of 50.8 (SD = 11.8) years, and reported a median care-recipient Patient-Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) score of 5. Support networks contained a median of 12 different sources of support (range, 8-27). Friends and family members were the most common support sources, reported by 14 (93.3%) and 11 care partners (73.3%), respectively. Next were friends or family of care recipients (n = 9, 60.0%), and the care recipients themselves (n = 9, 60.0%). Only care partner resilience (r = 0.539, P = .038) and neuroticism (r = -0.65, P = .009) were associated with support network size.

Natural supports (ie, friends, family members) were common and important components of care partner support networks. Care recipients were often important members of support networks, highlighting the dyadic disease experience. Findings emphasize the relationship between having support and maintaining resilience among MS care partners. Future efforts to implement novel sources of support must consider existing support networks and the characteristics of individual care partners that are most likely to ensure support uptake and efficacy.