The role of coping in adjustment to multiple sclerosis-related adaptive demands

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Abstract
In general, coping research has failed to examine coping and specific illness-related stressors, and with respect to multiple sclerosis (MS), there is a lack of research into coping with this disease. In this study, stress and coping theory was used to evaluate the role of appraisal and coping strategies in the adjustment to illness-related stressors in MS patients. A total of 134 MS patients and their carers were interviewed and completed self-administered scales. Predictors included illness, MS problems, appraisal and coping variables. Adjustment outcomes included depression, global distress, social adjustment, and global health status. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that illness variables were related to depression and social adjustment. Number of MS problems, appraisal and coping were related to most adjustment measures. Overall, findings supported the hypotheses that threat appraisals and emotion-focused coping would be related to poorer adjustment and that problem-focused coping would be related to better adjustment. There was only weak support for the hypothesis that the relationship between adjustment and both appraisal and coping would vary according to the type of illness-related stressor. Findings support the utility of a stress and coping model of adaptation to MS.