The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Psychological manifestations, such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common in patients with MS. Social support is involved in the well-being of patients with MS. This study aims to assess the relationship between perceived social support with depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with MS. Methods: This descriptive correlation study was conducted on ۲۴۰ patients with MS who were referred to the MS Center of Isfahan Province, Iran. Three questionnaires of the depression anxiety stress scale ۲۱ (DASS-۲۱), social support, and demographic questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were analyzed with SPSS software, version ۲۰ using descriptive and analytical statistics (independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation).  Results: In the current study, the mean perceived social support was ۲۷.۳۵±۹.۰۶. The mean depression, anxiety, and stress were ۱۴.۹۶±۵.۴۲, ۱۳.۹۲±۵.۸۸, and ۱۵.۳۹±۴.۸۲, respectively. In addition, an inverse correlation was observed between social support with depression, and anxiety (P<۰.۰۱). Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between social support and stress (P=۰.۲۱). Social support was a significant negative predictor that accounted for ۱۱.۸% of the variance in depression (R۲=۰.۱۱۸, P<۰.۰۰۱) and ۳.۴% of the variance in anxiety (R۲=۰.۰۳۴, P=۰.۰۰۲). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, social support of patients with MS can be one of the effective suggestions to decrease depression and anxiety.  Coresponding author: Samaneh Yazdani, E-mail: Samanehyazdani۱۳۷۱@gmail.com You can also search for this author in: Google scholar

Keywords:

Anxiety , Depression , Multiple sclerosis , Stress , Social support