Abstract
Aim:To determine how the diagnosis and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) impact interpersonal relationships.Participants & methods:Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 1010 individuals with MS responding to an online survey; responses were compared with results of a fibromyalgia survey.Results:MS participants had few negative perceptions of relationships with romantic partners/children/close friends but described the impact of fatigue and limited mobility as feelings of being not well understood by others, burdensome and isolated.Conclusion:Despite increasing disability/pain severity, most patients with MS reported high satisfaction levels and few negative perceptions of relationships with romantic partners/children/close friends. Future research should focus on identifying effective coping strategies used by satisfied couples and improving access to high-quality relationship-enrichment programs.
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