Social Identity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: An Examination of Family Identity and Mood

Barker, Alex B.; Lincoln, Nadina B.; Hunt, Nigel; das Nair, Roshan

Abstract

Background: Mood disorders are highly prevalent in people with MS. MS causes changes to a person’s sense of self. The Social Identity Model of Identity Change posits that group membership can have a positive effect on mood during identity change. The family is a social group implicated in adjustment to MS.
Objective: To investigate whether family identity can predict mood in people with MS.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design (n=123) comprising measures of family identity, family social support, connectedness to others, and mood.
Results: Family identity predicted mood both directly and indirectly through parallel mediators of family social support and connectedness to others.
Conclusion: Family identity predicted mood as posited by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change. Involving the family in adjustment to MS could reduce low mood.

Citation

Barker, A. B., Lincoln, N. B., Hunt, N., & das Nair, R. (2018). Social Identity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: An Examination of Family Identity and Mood. International Journal of Ms Care, 20(2), 85-91. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2016-074

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 6, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2017
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Deposit Date: Mar 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 7, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of MS Care
• Print ISSN: 1537-2073
• Electronic ISSN: 1537-2073
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 85-91
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2016-074
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/929299
• Publisher URL: http://ijmsc.org/doi/10.7224/1537-2073.2016-074?code=cmsc-site