Postpartum emotional distress in mothers with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related symptoms and both received social support and perceived deficits in social support on emotional distress in mothers with MS at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum.


METHODS
Longitudinal correlation descriptive study.


METHODS
Community-residing women in North America.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 174 postpartum mothers with MS.


METHODS
Mothers completed the MS-Related Symptom Scale and Postpartum Support Questionnaire at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression analyses determined relationships between the dependent variable, emotional distress, and independent variables: participant characteristics, MS-related symptoms, and social support.


RESULTS
The authors found moderately strong positive correlations between MS-related symptoms and emotional distress at each assessment. Significant negative correlations existed between received social support and emotional distress at 1 month but not at 3 and 6 months. Significant positive correlations existed between MS-related symptoms and social support deficits at each assessment. Explained variance in emotional distress across the three assessments ranged between 2% and 4% for participant characteristics, 49% and 60% for MS-related symptoms, 2% and 7% for social support, and 57% and 66% for total variance.


CONCLUSIONS
MS-related symptoms created considerable emotional distress in mothers that was minimally alleviated by the support given them. In fact, many needed more support than they received.
Gulick
Elsie E
EE
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, College of Nursing, 180 University Avenue, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. gulick@nightengale.rutgers.edu
Kim
Sun
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors