Daily negative interactions and mood among patients and partners dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS): The moderating effects of emotional support

Abstract

Negative interactions with intimate partners may have adverse consequences for well-being, especially for individuals dealing with chronic illness. However, it is not clear whether negative interactions affect both dimensions of positive and negative well-being and factors that may moderate this effect have not been well-described. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between daily received negative responses from the partner and end-of-day positive and negative mood in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their intimate partners. Further, the moderating role of receiving emotional support from the partner on the same day was examined. Sixty-one MS patients and their intimate partners were approached via one MS centre and the neurology department of one hospital in the Netherlands and completed computerized diaries for 14 days. Both partners filled out diaries at the end of each day, recording received negative responses, emotional support and end-of-day positive and negative mood. In line with a domain specific model, patients or partners who reported receiving negative responses on a day had higher end-of-day negative mood, whereas received negative responses were unrelated to end-of-day positive mood. Further, for both patients and partners, the adverse effect of received negative responses on end-of day mood was moderated by receiving emotional support on the same day. r

Improvements in partner support predict sexual satisfaction among individuals with multiple sclerosis.

“…The role of social support in predicting psychological outcomes in populations living with MS has also been investigated. Support has been found for the impact of negative and positive social support on stress level, specifically, negative partner support served to increase perceived stress, but positive partner support reduced the detrimental impact of this negative social support on stress (Kleiboer, et al, 2007). Negative forms of partner social support have also been associated with increased disability, and worse physical and mental health among those with MS (Schwartz & Kraft, 1999).…”

“…Importantly, social support has been conceptualized as representing two separate dimensions in previous research (i.e., Mavandadi, Rook, & Newsom, 2007). Indeed, past research underscores that negative and positive forms of social support are not just opposite ends of the same dimension (see for example, Kleiboer et al, 2007). Research on older community-dwelling adults found that positive social support (e.g., encouragement) predicted less future disability (as measured by perceived difficulty in performing activities of daily living) while negative social support (e.g., criticism) led to more future disability (Mavandadi et al, 2007).…”

Adult Health in the Context of Everyday Family Life

“…The findings were echoed in a sample of people with multiple sclerosis who experienced more end-of-day negative mood when their spouses made disapproving remarks or were avoidant or demanding. However, the association between negative spouse behaviors and mood was weakened on days of high emotional support [70].…”

The needs of carers of people with multiple sclerosis: a literature review

“…Spouses’ end‐of‐day mood benefited from giving instrumental support to and receiving emotional support from the PwMS (40). More daily hassles and higher end‐of‐day negative mood were reported by spouses who received negative responses from the PwMS than those who did not receive negative responses (41). However, the adverse effects of the received negative responses on end‐of‐day mood were moderated by receiving emotional support on the same day (41).…”