Love, Self-Esteem, and Multiple Sclerosis

Authors

Anthony Walsh, Boise State UniversityFollow
Patricia A. Walsh, Boise State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-1989

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive chronic disease which generally appears in early adulthood. The debilitating symptoms of MS can have adverse effects on the sufferer's self-esteem, a vital coping resource for sufferers of chronic diseases. This study explores the effects of positive affect and social isolation—conceived broadly together as love—on self-esteem. We found that love was the most powerful predictor of self-esteem, followed by attitude stage, number of years since diagnosis, social class, and physical restriction.

Publication Information

Walsh, Anthony and Walsh, Patricia A.. (1989). "Love, Self-Esteem, and Multiple Sclerosis". Social Science & Medicine, 29(7), 793-798. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(89)90078-6