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

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.

Greater number of group identifications is associated with lower odds of being depressed: evidence from a Scottish community sample

“…More specifically, social, developmental, and clinical psychologists have found that identification with groups such as the family [4], the professional group [5], the support group [6], and the school [7] predicts lower levels of depressive symptomatology. Indeed, in a systematic review of 13 studies assessing the relationship between identification with a given group and self-reported depression, Cruwys and colleagues [8] found the typical Pearson's correlation coefficient value to approximate -0.…”

Social support network and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

“…Research about the relationship between the SSN and HRQOL show that participation in supporting groups is strongly linked to the decrease of anxiety and to satisfaction with life 21 . Other studies about HRQOL with chronic patients have revealed that the patients' SSN is less than the SSN of healthy people 19,22 .…”

A commentary on ‘The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis’

“…In conclusion, the paper from Wakefield and colleagues [1] offers an interesting and worthwhile addition to our understanding of the function of support groups for the chronically ill. We wish them well with their programme of research and believe with further consideration of the social psychological processes at work, we may achieve a clearer understanding of how to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for those affected by chronic illness. Taking into account the type of social support group, and the ways in which people perceive the availability of support, as well as understanding how gender moderates these processes would be promising venues for future research.…”

“…In a recent paper Wakefield, Bickley and Sani [1] conclude that identifying strongly with a multiple sclerosis (MS) support group was associated with improved mental health in patients with MS. We welcome this work and appreciate that social identity has important implications for health and well-being [2] being proponents of this position ourselves [3]. In particular, the Wakefield et al [1] paper demonstrates that patients who reported high support group identification also reported better mental health and greater satisfaction with life relative to those with lower identification.…”

“…In particular, the Wakefield et al [1] paper demonstrates that patients who reported high support group identification also reported better mental health and greater satisfaction with life relative to those with lower identification.…”