Subjective well-being of adults with multiple sclerosis during COVID-19: Evaluating stress-appraisal-coping and person-environment factors.

Abstract

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been coping with high levels of stress during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, affecting their employment, physical, and mental health, and overall life satisfaction.

Objective: This study evaluated constructs of the stress-appraisal-coping theory and positive person-environment factors as predictors of subjective well-being for adults with MS.

Method: Participants included 477 adults with MS recruited through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the incremental variance in subjective well-being accounted for by demographic covariates, functional disability, perceived stress, stress appraisal, coping styles, and positive person-environment contextual factors.

Results: Positive stress appraisal and coping flexibility were significantly associated with subjective well-being at the bivariate correlation level and at the step they were entered into the regression model. Marital status, household income, functional disability, perceived stress, hope, core self-evaluations, and social support were significant predictors in the final model, accounting for 60% of the variance in subjective well-being scores (R² = .60, f² = 1.48; large effect size).

Conclusions: Findings from this study support a stress management and well-being model based on constructs of Lazarus and Folkman's stress-appraisal-coping theory and positive person-environment contextual factors, which can inform the development of theory-driven and empirically supported stress management and well-being interventions for people with MS during the ongoing global health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).