title: Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: role of cognitive appraisals of self, illness and treatment.
abstract: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is considered an important measure of treatment and rehabilitation outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study, we used multivariate regression analysis to examine the role of cognitive appraisals, adjusted for clinical, socioeconomic and demographic variables, as correlates of HRQoL in MS.
  
  
  
  The cross-sectional study included 257 MS patients, who completed Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Treatment Beliefs Scale, Actually Received Support Scale (a part of Berlin Social Support Scale) and Socioeconomic Resources Scale. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were collected with a self-report survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between the variables.
  
  
  
  Five variables, illness identity (β = 0.29, p ≤ 0.001), self-esteem (β = -0.22, p ≤ 0.001), general self-efficacy (β = -0.21, p ≤ 0.001), disability subgroup "EDSS" (β = 0.14, p = 0.006) and age (β = 0.12, p = 0.012), were significant correlates of HRQoL in MS. These variables explained 46 % of variance in the dependent variable. Moreover, we identified correlates of physical and psychological dimensions of HRQoL.
  
  
  
  Cognitive appraisals, such as general self-efficacy, self-esteem and illness perception, are more salient correlates of HRQoL than social support, socioeconomic resources and clinical characteristics, such as type and duration of MS. Therefore, interventions aimed at cognitive appraisals may also improve HRQoL of MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Culture of People with Disabilities, University School of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznan, Poland. mwilski@wp.pl.|Department of Physiotherapy and Knowledge About Health, State University of Applied Sciences, Konin, Poland. mwilski@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilski
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Culture of People with Disabilities, University School of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tasiemski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive appraisals; Health-related quality of life; Illness perception; Multiple sclerosis; Multivariate analysis