Social support and self-esteem in multiple sclerosis. Can mastery mediate the association between them?

Abstract

Background The aim of this study is to explore whether association between social support and self-esteem is mediated by mastery in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Social support as a variable of external social resources and self-esteem as indicator of internal psychological resources are traditionally associated in the literature, but the role of mastery as enabler of these variables was not studied before. Methods For this cross-sectional study we collected information from 155 consecutive MS patients (response rate: 84.2%, 75.4% women), who completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Perceived Mastery Scale. Multiple linear regressions, correlations and mediation analysis (Sobel z test) were used to analyze the data. Findings Association between social support and self-esteem was partially mediated by mastery (Sobel z=2.502; p=0.01). The indirect effect via mastery in this model was 36.9%, which complemented the direct effect between social support and self–esteem (63.1%). Discussion Mastery seems to be an important factor in association between social support and self-esteem. As a general enabler of internal resources it may help MS patients in utilizing their skills and resources to improve their quality of life. Mastery thus may be one of the interesting topics in educational intervention programs for people with MS and can be used by caregivers, physicians or in MS clubs. [Grant support: APVV-15-0719; VEGA 1/0594/17]