The Family of People with Multiple Sclerosis: The Process of Family Stress Adaptation

Abstract

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects everyday functioning of individuals with MS, and their family dynamics. Furthermore, MS is a chronic disease with unpredictable course imposing a stressful experience on the entire family. Changes in family functioning patterns are necessary so that they can appropriately respond to complex demands imposed by the disease. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate predictive values of family resources in the encounter with stressful life events and family adaptation. These data are required to provide adequate family support systems. Methods: The sample consisted of 62 people with MS. The following instruments were used: Family Adaptation Scale, Family Social Support Index, Financial Well-Being Scale, and Family Problem Solving Communication Scale. Results: The results of this research indicate that subjective assessment of the quality of family relationships, measures of the quality of family communication (β = 0.353, P < 0.001), and measures of perceived family social support (β = 0.272, P < 0.05) are the only predictors of successful family adaptation. Conclusions: The results infer that the processes essential for successful adaptation of people with MS occurs within their nuclear family. Therefore, adaptation to accidental crisis created by MS onset can be promoted by strengthening support and communication within the nuclear family.

Adaptation of families of adult patients with brain tumor: Partial least squares structural equation modeling

“…To reduce family stress and improve family adaptation, family resilience is important [ 44 ], given that resilience is a protective factor for family [ 45 ]. Our study showed that family stress had a negative effect on family adaptation, which is consistent with previous studies on the families of patients with chronic illnesses [ 18 , 46 , 47 ]. Thus, when nurses provide nursing care to patients with brain tumors in the clinical field, they should consider what kinds of stress the families of patient experience and find various interventions to relieve their stress.…”

Barriers to and Facilitators of Adjustment Among Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Qualitative Study

“…Based on the experiences of our participants, the family's appropriate behavior is effective in and facilitates the patient's adjustment. Brkić-Jovanović et al (2019) argued that the main factor contributing to adjustment to this disease lies within the family; therefore, adjustment can be improved by strengthening support and communication in the family. Khanjani et al (2019) also argued that receiving the right support from the family along with the delegation of responsibility to the patient and accompanying and empathizing with them contribute to the patient's acceptance and adjustment to the disease conditions.…”

Perceived social support, mental health, and marital satisfaction in multiple sclerosis patients

“…The high perceived social support in dependent patients for ADL with a long diagnosis period can be explained by the demanding care of the patient in the face of increasing patient needs and the adaptation and modification of the care content that family members should offer according to new needs. In the study conducted by Brkić‐Jovanović et al, 76 it was stated that the most important determinants affecting the harmony of MS patients with their family and the quality of their intra‐family relationships were the quality of communication and social support within the family. It was observed that social support received from any source other than the family had no statistically significant effect.…”

“…It was observed that social support received from any source other than the family had no statistically significant effect. Social support, especially received from family members within the nuclear family, ensures the quality of intrafamily communication 76 …”

“…The reasons, such as the fact that MS has a chronic type with remitting and relapses, is more common in productive ages considered as young adulthood, families can not predict the relapses periods, the disease course, the functional capacity and psychological aspects of the patients, and adverse effects on caregivers as well as the patients, can disrupt the dynamism in the family 76,77 . The decrease in family harmony, satisfaction and communication quality within the family causes an increase in the caregiver burden.…”