Investigation of the relationship coping with the disease and affecting cognitive, physical and psychosocial factors in people with multiple sclerosis

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between coping with the disease and affecting cognitive, physical and psychosocial factors in people with multiple sclerosis. Methods: Ninety seven pwMS were enrolled in this study. Demographics and clinical characteristics were recorded. Coping with MS Scale (CMSS) was used to measure coping including seven subscales: problem-solving, physical assistance, acceptance, avoidance, personal health control, energy conservation, emotional release. Anxiety and depression levels, stigma, neuropsychological symptoms and personality were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), EuroQol-5D Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D), Quality of Life in Neurological Diseases (NeuroQoL) -Stigma Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) and Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Abbreviated Form (EKA-GGK), respectively. Results: A weak statistically significant positive correlation between the physical support subscale and age and the duration of the disease, and a strong positive correlation with EDSS (r=.214, p=.035; r=.213, p=.036; r.=582, p=<.0001, respectively) were found. There was a moderate negative relationship between the Physical Support subscale and the EQ-5D Mobility, Self-Care, Pain and Health subscales (r=-.434, p=.000; r=-.482, p=.000; r=-.526, p=<.001, respectively), a weak negative correlation with Anxiety, and a strong negative relationship with Usual Activities (r=-.379, p=<.001; r=-.243, p=.017; r=-.384, p=<.001, respectively). Conclusion: It has been shown that coping with MS can be affected by cognitive, physical, and psychosocial factors.