Abstract
Self esteem and body esteem were examined in a group of 35 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using the Body Esteem Scale (BES) and the Eysenck Self Esteem Scale (ESES) and compared to age and sex matched normal controls. There were 23 females and 12 males in the MS patient's group; average age 38.9 years (range: 22-52). All participants completed the self-rated BES evaluating the following subscales: females - sexual attractiveness, physical condition and weight concern; males - physical attractiveness, physical condition and upper body strength. In addition all participants were scored, following a semi-structured interview, on the ESES. Psychiatric co-morbidity was excluded using a semi-structured interview by the consulting psychiatrist. All evaluations were carried out during the remitting phase. Statistical analysis, comparing patients to healthy controls, demonstrated lowered self-rating of the physical condition (males < 0.05, females < 0.001). On the other hand, no significant differences were found in the physical (male) or sexual (female)�attractiveness subscales. The mean ESES score in the patients group was 23.2 ± 4.0, slightly above the reported average. The controls mean ESES was 28.4 ± 3.6, (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between self and body esteem amongst M.S. patients. This study emphasizes impaired perception of body esteem in multiple sclerosis patients even in remission. The preservation of physical and sexual attractiveness may be related to the non-disfiguring nature of the disease. Preservation of self-esteem in MS patients suggests that body-esteem should be the focus of supportive treatment.
Highlights
Body image is a term that is often used in the psychological and psychiatric literature [14]
This study focuses on the perceptions of self and body esteem in Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in order to evaluate these important psychological dimensions, and their possible implications to the patients coping with their disease
The control subjects’ Body Esteem Scale (BES) scores were as follows: (a) females: ‘S’ – median 50.5; ‘P’ – median 36.2; ‘W’ – median 37.2 and (b) males: ‘A’ – median 42.7; ‘P’ – median 47.6; ‘U’ – median 26.0. Both male and female MS patients showed a significant decrease in esteem of their physical condition (‘P’ males p < 0.05; ‘P’ females p < 0.001)
Summary
Body image is a term that is often used in the psychological and psychiatric literature [14]. It has even been implicated in the etiology of certain psychiatric disorders [1]. Exact definition and instruments (subjective and objective) for the evaluation of the perception of self esteem and its important component – body image – have been lacking in previous years. Assessment of Body-esteem should be supplemented by evaluation of self-esteem, as it is important to unravel the extent to which these two concept are interwined. The human body’s shape and movement reflect inner physical and psychological states intimately related to self-esteem. People who score high on self-esteem tend to have confidence in themselves and their abilities
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