THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND COPING WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is progressive chronic demyelinating disease of the
central nervous system that in patients interferes with quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the
relationship between personality traits and coping styles with quality of life in patients with MS was
done.
Materials & Methods: The study population included all MS patients with secondary or higher
education covered by the MS Society of West Azerbaijan Province. 120 MS patients (51 males, 69
females) were selected by means of convenience sampling. The data were collected using Goldberg
character inventory, quality of life questionnaire (QOL), and scale of coping style (CSQ). The data were
analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise regression using SPSS-
20.
Results: The results indicated that there was significant relationship between neuroticism (negatively),
extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and problem-focused coping style (positively) with quality
of life in MS patients. Also, stepwise regression analysis showed that three traits of neuroticism,
extraversion and conscientiousness about 40 percent of variance in quality of life can be predicted in
patients with MS.
Conclusion: Personality traits predict the quality of life of MS patients and problem-focused coping
strategies, increase quality of life in these patients