Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent chronic illness characterized by a range of physical symptoms. Depression, health anxiety (fear of illness and intrusive health-related thoughts), and relationship distress are common psychological outcomes reported by both MS patients and their partners. Although evidence has suggested that physical symptoms predict worse psychological adjustment, little is known about protective factors. The present study examines whether physical symptoms predict depression, health anxiety, and relationship distress over 12 months in MS couples, and how relationship dynamics buffer or exacerbate these associations. 120 couples will be recruited through existing partnerships with St. Michael's Hospital MS Clinic and the MS Society of Canada. Participants will each complete an online survey at baseline, six-months, and one year follow-up that assesses physical symptoms (fatigue, pain, cognitive impairment, and disability), positive and negative relationship dynamics (communication, social support, constraints from one's partner on illness-related communication, and hostile conflict), and psychological outcomes (depression, health anxiety, and relationship adjustment). It is expected that greater physical symptoms will predict greater depression, health anxiety, and relationship distress over time. It is also predicted that positive relationship dynamics will buffer the effect of greater symptoms on worse outcomes, while negative dynamics will exacerbate it. The high rate of negative outcomes in MS couples calls for a greater understanding of predictors and moderators. The present study will add to the current literature by identifying temporally valid predictors of couples' psychological outcomes. Additionally, identifying positive and negative relationship dynamics that protect couples from the negative effects of physical symptoms, or exacerbate their detrimental impact, will inform psychological interventions.