The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2013-05, Vol.74 (5), p.420-426
• Main Authors: Wakefield, Juliet R.H, Bickley, Sarah, Sani, Fabio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Female; Groups; Humans; Male; Mathematical Computing; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - psychology; Psychiatry; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Quality of Life - psychology; Self-Help Groups; Sick Role; Social Identification; Social identity; Support groups; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.02.002

Abstract Objective Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with various psychological problems, including depression and anxiety. Whilst MS support groups are intended to improve mental health, this goal is not always achieved. Taking a social identity approach, we hypothesise that it is the level of subjective identification with a support group (rather than simply support group membership per se) that positively affects the mental health of people with MS. Methods 152 individuals with MS were recruited via UK MS support groups and completed a questionnaire. This included measures of support group identification, depression, anxiety and satisfaction with life, as well as control variables (education level and age). Results Analyses revealed that, as hypothesised, support group identification was significantly linked to depression, anxiety and satisfaction with life. Moreover, group identification explained a significant amount of variance in addition to that explained by education and age on each health outcome. Repeating the analysis to compare each of the three main sub-types of MS revealed these effects to be present for individuals with Relapsing–Remitting (RR) and Primary Progressive (PP) MS, but not for those with Secondary Progressive (SP) MS. Conclusions We suggest that identifying highly with an MS support group has important positive outcomes for MS patients' mental health. This has implications for practicing clinicians: people with MS (particularly RRMS and PPMS) should be encouraged to engage with support groups, but more must be done to ensure they subjectively identify with these groups, rather than merely attend them.