Social support as a predictor of perceived health status in patients with multiple sclerosis

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• 作者：Martina Krokavcova ; Jitse P. van Dijk ; Iveta Nagyova ; Jaroslav Rosenberger ; Miriam Gavelova ; Berrie Middel ; Zuzana Gdovinova ; Johan W. Groothoff
• 关键词：Multiple sclerosis ; Social support ; Perceived health status ; Mental health summary scale ; Physical health summary scale
• 刊名：Patient Education and Counseling
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：October 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：73
• 期：1
• 页码：159-165
• 全文大小：124 K

文摘

Objective

The main aim of this study was to investigate whether different levels of perceived social support are associated with different levels of perceived health status in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods

Two hundred and seven MS patients (38.4 ± 10.6 years, 66.2 % female) completed the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) as the measure for perceived health status, and the perceived social support scale (PSSS) as the measure for social support. Functional disability was assessed using Kurtzke's expanded disability status scale (EDSS). The contribution of EDSS and PSSS for explaining the variance in SF-36 was investigated with multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

Demographic variables and EDSS explained 44 % of the variance of the physical health summary scale in the SF-36. Demographic variables, EDSS and PSSS from family and friends explained 24 % of the variance in mental health summary scale in the SF-36. Results varied according to the multiple linear regression analyses of predictors of variance in the eight dimensions of the SF-36.

Conclusion

PSSS from significant others was positively associated with general health dimension of perceived physical health status, while PSSS from family and friends was positively associated with perceived mental health status in MS patients.

Practice implications

The results show the importance of supporting social ties and relationships between MS patients and others.