Illness perceptions and coping: Their role in adjusting to multiple sclerosis

The present study examined the role of disease severity, illness perceptions and coping on adjustment to multiple sclerosis. Participants with a confirmed diagnosis completed measures of illness perceptions, coping, anxiety, and depression, and general health status. Functional disability and medication use was also measured. Preliminary regressional analyses (N = 57) revealed that type of multiple sclerosis, disease severity, emotional representations and a belief in a chronic and cyclical timeline predicted depression. Contrary to previous research, perceived control and coping did not predict anxiety or depression. The results suggest that illness perceptions play a more influential role in adjustment than coping, and this has important implications for future interventions.