Tamrin Barta1, Litza Kiropoulos2. 1. Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. 2. Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. litzak@unimelb.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) yet little is known about factors associated with psychological help-seeking attitudes in those with MS. METHOD: The current study investigated whether increased stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms and psychological help-seeking attitudes in individuals with MS. Two hundred fifty-four participants with MS completed an online questionnaire assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms, stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, autonomous motivation, and psychological help-seeking attitudes. RESULTS: Stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation mediated the relationships between increased depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms and psychological help-seeking attitudes. The study also found that higher levels of chronic illness-related stigma and internalized shame were associated with more negative psychological help-seeking attitudes and higher autonomous motivation was associated with more positive psychological help-seeking attitudes. There were no direct effects of depressive or anxiety symptoms on psychological help-seeking attitudes. CONCLUSION: The significant mediating roles of stigma-related chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation indicate that these factors may be useful to include in future depression and anxiety intervention studies targeting MS populations.
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) yet little is known about factors associated with psychological help-seeking attitudes in those with MS. METHOD: The current study investigated whether increased stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms and psychological help-seeking attitudes in individuals with MS. Two hundred fifty-four participants with MS completed an online questionnaire assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms, stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, autonomous motivation, and psychological help-seeking attitudes. RESULTS: Stigma related to chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation mediated the relationships between increased depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms and psychological help-seeking attitudes. The study also found that higher levels of chronic illness-related stigma and internalized shame were associated with more negative psychological help-seeking attitudes and higher autonomous motivation was associated with more positive psychological help-seeking attitudes. There were no direct effects of depressive or anxiety symptoms on psychological help-seeking attitudes. CONCLUSION: The significant mediating roles of stigma-related chronic illness, internalized shame, and autonomous motivation indicate that these factors may be useful to include in future depression and anxiety intervention studies targeting MS populations.
Authors: Rosa E Boeschoten; Annemarie M J Braamse; Aartjan T F Beekman; Pim Cuijpers; Patricia van Oppen; Joost Dekker; Bernard M J Uitdehaag Journal: J Neurol Sci Date: 2016-11-30 Impact factor: 3.181
Authors: R Mojtabai; M Olfson; N A Sampson; R Jin; B Druss; P S Wang; K B Wells; H A Pincus; R C Kessler Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2010-12-07 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Deepa Rao; Seung W Choi; David Victorson; Rita Bode; Amy Peterman; Allen Heinemann; David Cella Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2009-04-25 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: A G Beiske; E Svensson; I Sandanger; B Czujko; E D Pedersen; J H Aarseth; K M Myhr Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2008-01-22 Impact factor: 6.089
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Stephen Reingold; Jeffrey Cohen; Olaf Stuve; Maria Trojano; Per Soelberg Sorensen; Gary Cutter; Nadia Reider Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 6.312