The Relationship between Body Image, Disability and Mental Health in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive degenerative disorder that frequently involves the development of physical and emotional changes, including loss of limb function or sensitivity, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive and mood alterations. It is likely that these alterations lead to changes in body aspects. However, knowledge about body image perception in multiple sclerosis is lacking.

PURPOSE

The present study investigated the relationship between body image perception and its correlation with a disability, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and self-esteem.

METHODS

A total of 100 outpatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis underwent neurological assessment using the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Participants also completed the Body Image Scale (BIS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).

RESULTS

We found a significant positive correlation between body image and disability (r = 0.21; p = 0.03), body image and self-esteem (r = -0.52; p < 0.001), body image and somatization (r = 0.44; p < 0.001), body image and depression (r = 0.57; p < 0.001), and body image and anxiety (r = 0.5; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The body is considered one of the main parts of a person's identity. Dissatisfaction with one's own body changes the general evaluation of the "self". The body image construct has important health outcomes and should be studied more in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The Mediating Role of Depression in the Relationship Between Body Image Dissatisfaction and Cyberbullying Perpetration

Preliminary evidence suggests that psychopathological factors (e.g., depression) are associated with higher engagement in cyberbullying perpetration, and those with elevated body image dissatisfaction (BID) are more susceptible to depression. However, the possible impact of body image dissatisfaction (BID) on cyberbullying remains untested. The present study examined the direct and indirect relationships of BID with cyberbullying via depression among a sample of 507 university students (mean age, 21.37 years; range 18–44 years). t tests showed that males had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying than females. Structural equation modeling indicated that BID was directly and indirectly associated with cyberbullying via depression among the total sample and males. However, BID was only indirectly related to cyberbullying via depression among females. Depression fully explained the relationship between BID and cyberbullying among females, although there were additional mediating factors between BID and cyberbullying among males. The findings are in accordance with theoretical models suggesting that individuals’ personal characteristics including psychopathological factors are associated with cyberbullying. Furthermore, males attempt to cope with their body image–related psychopathology with more externalizing behaviors than females.