Having close friend linked to better well-being in women with MS
Study underscores importance of close relationships for better health outcomes
Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have a close friend to confide in experience better physical and mental health outcomes than women without this kind of relationship, a study reports.
As well as higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms, women who did not have a confidant had worse perceived general and physical health. Across various metrics of quality of life and personal well-being, having a confidant predicted better outcomes.
“Results suggest that the simple question Do you have someone to confide in? may be an important indicator of individuals’ health and well-being,” researchers wrote.
The study, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me: The Importance of a Confidant and Its Role on Health and Well-Being Among Women With Multiple Sclerosis,” was published in the International Journal of MS Care.
Some people with MS experience limited social interaction because symptoms such as reduced mobility restrict their ability to visit family and friends. Lack of understanding about MS within an individual’s social circle may also contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness. This can correlate with exacerbated physical and mental health problems, according to previous research.
160 women with MS filled out online survey
In the new study, researchers examined a specific aspect of social integration: having at least one close friend to confide in. They predicted people without a confidant would have worse health and sense of personal well-being.
To address these questions, they asked 160 women with MS to fill out an online survey that included questions about various MS symptoms and measures of mental and physical health. This was part of a larger study of factors associated with employment status for people with MS. The team focused on women for this analysis because they make up most MS cases and also because gender norms can influence social interactions, so the needs of men and women in terms of personal relationships may differ.
Thirty women, or 19% of the group, answered no to the question Do you have a best friend in whom you confide? This group had similar demographic characteristics to women who answered this question in the affirmative, with an average age of about 44 years in both. Most of the women (96.25%) had relapsing-remitting MS.
Having a confidant correlated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, and women with confidants were less likely to be diagnosed with either condition. Other measures of mental health and quality of life, including feelings of flourishing and satisfaction with life, were significantly higher in women with confidants.
“Although the mental health consequences of not having a confidant might appear obvious, the physical health consequences are not always as apparent,” the researchers wrote.
Symptoms of MS tended to be more severe in the women who did not have a confidant, with general health and psychological well-being also being affected. These women reported higher levels of fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain.
Despite similar proportions of women in both groups being in relationships (78.5% of women with confidants and 76.7% of women without), women without someone to confide in reported lower perceived social support and partner satisfaction. The research team suggested that not feeling like there is someone to confide in may reflect relationship strain, and stressed “assessment and intervention aimed at improving these relationships are warranted among women with MS.”
The simple question Do you have someone to confide in? may be an important indicator of individuals’ health and well-being.
Having a confidant predicted significantly better health, life quality outcomes
After accounting for other variables that could impact physical and mental health, including age, diet, and cardiovascular risk, having a confidant predicted significantly better outcomes across various measures of health and quality of life. This could be because confiding in someone may help women with MS develop both mental and physical coping strategies.
“Having a confidant, particularly another person with MS, may allow individuals with MS to discuss their disease symptoms and ways to manage them,” the team wrote.
The researchers cautioned their results may not be generalizable, as their study focused on women who were employed. However, their findings suggest asking a woman with MS if she has a social confidant could be an indirect way of measuring mental and physical health.
“Practitioners should routinely assess patients’ socialization and discuss the importance of social networks and communal activity,” the researchers wrote.
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