Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Sep 18;13(18):5505.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13185505.

Importance of Coping Strategies on Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Affiliations
Review

Importance of Coping Strategies on Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Laura Culicetto et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, spasticity, tremors, and cognitive disorders. Individuals with MS may employ different coping strategies to manage these symptoms, which in turn can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL). This review aims to analyze these coping strategies and their impact on QoL. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the key factors that influence the choice and effectiveness of these coping strategies, providing insights into which strategies are most beneficial for enhancing QoL in people with MS. Methods: Systematic searches were performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. This systematic review has been registered in OSF with the number DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/QY37X. Results: A total of 1192 studies were identified. After reading the full text of the selected studies and applying predefined inclusion criteria, 19 studies were included based on their pertinence and relevance to the topic. The results revealed that emotional variables, demographic factors, personality traits, and family support significantly influence the choice of coping strategies used to manage the symptoms of MS. Problem-solving and task-oriented coping were prevalent among MS patients and associated with better QoL outcomes. Emotional-focused and avoidance strategies were generally linked to poorer QoL, though avoidance provided temporary relief in certain contexts. Social support, emotional health, and cognitive reframing were crucial in enhancing QoL. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of tailored psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions focusing on emotional health, social support, and adaptive coping strategies. These interventions can significantly improve the long-term outcomes for individuals with MS. Future research should explore the dynamic interactions between coping strategies and QoL over time, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to best support MS patients in managing their disease.

Keywords: coping strategies; emotional factors; multiple sclerosis; quality of life; rehabilitation; sociodemographic variables.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA Flow Chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Shows the Risk of Bias (ROBINS-E) of studies regarding the coping strategies used in MS and their impact on QoL [23,32,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52].

Similar articles

References

    1. McDonald W.I., Compston A., Edan G., Goodkin D., Hartung H., Lublin F.D., McFarland H.F., Paty D.W., Polman C.H., Reingold S.C., et al. Recommended Diagnostic Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis: Guidelines from the International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Ann. Neurol. 2001;50:121–127. doi: 10.1002/ana.1032. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Compston A., Coles A. Multiple Sclerosis. The Lancet. 2008;372:1502–1517. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61620-7. - DOI - PubMed
    1. O’Connor P. Key Issues in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology. 2002;59:S1–S33. doi: 10.1212/WNL.59.6_suppl_3.S1. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Thompson A.J., Banwell B.L., Barkhof F., Carroll W.M., Coetzee T., Comi G., Correale J., Fazekas F., Filippi M., Freedman M.S., et al. Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: 2017 Revisions of the McDonald Criteria. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17:162–173. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30470-2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kingwell E., Marriott J.J., Jetté N., Pringsheim T., Makhani N., Morrow S.A., Fisk J.D., Evans C., Béland S.G., Kulaga S., et al. Incidence and Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Europe: A Systematic Review. BMC Neurol. 2013;13:128. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-13-128. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources