Role of resiliency in the relationship between disability and quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis: mediation analysis

Purpose
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system which leads to permanent disability and affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). One of the predictors of HRQoL in people with chronic diseases may be ego resiliency, which is the ability to cope with difficulties in a flexible way. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the disability associated with the course of multiple sclerosis and the level of ego resiliency and health related quality of life.

Methods
110 people diagnosed with MS participated in the study. Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS), The Resiliency Measurement Scale (SPP-25) and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS-29) were used in the study.

Results
The study showed that ego resiliency is a mediator between neurological disability and HRQoL. Neurological disability, which consists of many symptoms of multiple sclerosis, including mood disorders, affects the level of ego resiliency (in the experience of emotions, among others), which affects the mental aspect of health-related quality of life.

Conclusions
The level of ego resiliency is a better predictor of quality of life than the disability itself. This is important from the point of view of clinical practice because an increase in disability is difficult to control while it is possible to develop the level of ego resiliency. The development of resiliency and, associated with this, resources of positive emotionality, can have a positive effect on reducing the impact of the symptoms of the disease on quality of life.