Department of Psychology

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Browsing Department of Psychology by Author "Ackerman, Inge"

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    Coping strategies and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS): A South African online perspective
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Ackerman, Inge; Pretorius, Chrisma; Coetzee, Bronwyne; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between coping strategies used by individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their quality of life (QoL) in the context of South Africa. Two hundred individuals (18 years and older) diagnosed with MS were recruited from the online Facebook support group, Multiple Sclerosis South Africa Western Cape. Participants were asked to complete a survey that consisted of a biographical questionnaire, a coping questionnaire (Brief Cope) as well as a QoL questionnaire (Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire [MusiQoL]). Correlation analyses were performed to explore the relationship between QoL and coping. Independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA’s were utilised to ascertain if there were differences in the mean coping and QoL scores between different groups (male and female) and sub-types of MS namely relapsing/remitting (RRMS), primary progressive (PPMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and progressive relapsing (PRMS). A multiple regression was conducted to explore the predictors of QoL (independent variables: age, education, level of income, MS subtype, coping style, and dependent variable: QoL). The results of this study indicated that a relationship exists between the coping strategies used by individuals with MS and their level of QoL. Specifically, a significant positive relationship was identified between the use of emotional support, venting, positive reframing, acceptance and QoL. In contrast, a significant negative relationship was identified between the use of behavioural disengagement, mental disengagement, substance use, self-blame, and QoL. The results also highlighted a low QoL among this sample of South Africans with MS (measured with a mean global index score of 51.33 on the MusiQoL). Moreover, it was ascertained that MS sub-type had an affect on the coping strategies and QoL of individuals with MS in this sample. Finally, the results of this study also showed that planning (1.14 %), positive reframing (1.69%), acceptance (1.29 %), behavioural disengagement (1.23 %), and self-blame (9.85 %) account for some of the iii variance in the QoL of this sample. The findings of this study provided greater insight into the patterns of coping and QoL of individuals with MS in South Africa. These findings also highlight that the type of coping strategies used by the MS participants in our sample had a significant negative influence on their level of QoL.