Investigation of the Relationship Between Coping With the Disease and Affecting Cognitive, Physical, and Psychosocial Factors in People with Multiple Sclerosis.

This article focuses on the relationship between coping mechanisms in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and various cognitive, physical, and psychosocial factors, including socio-demographic characteristics, disability, personality, stigma, quality of life, depression, and anxiety. In a cross-sectional study of 102 pwMS, coping strategies were assessed using the Coping with Multiple Sclerosis Scale (CMSS), and correlations were found between coping styles and measures such as disability level (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), quality of life (EuroQol-5D), neuropsychological symptoms, stigma, anxiety, and depression. Notably, higher disability and psychological distress were associated with increased use of physical assistance as a coping strategy and decreased acceptance of the disease, while better quality of life and lower stigma correlated with greater acceptance and problem-solving coping. The study highlights that coping strategies in pwMS vary according to disability, mental health status, stigma, and quality of life, suggesting the importance of addressing these factors in therapeutic approaches.