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

55,000 to 75,000 Canadians have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sexual dysfunction (SD) is reported in up to 73.1% of MS patients and is associated with significant decreases in quality of life (QOL) and sexual satisfaction. Few studies have examined predictors of sexual satisfaction for MS patients, an outcome that cannot be overlooked given its importance in maintaining strong partnerships and the crucial role of partner support in predicting improved QOL. Relationship variables, such as marital satisfaction, may mediate the relationship between SD and sexual satisfaction/QOL. Uncovering mediators of the relationship between SD and sexual satisfaction/QOL is an important step in identifying targets for a behavioral intervention to enhance such outcomes. Little research has been conducted on psychological interventions for couples living with MS. 110 couples with MS were recruited and participants completed an online survey measuring SD, sexual satisfaction, QOL, relationship satisfaction, and partner support. Year 1: A meditational analysis will be conducted to investigate the meditational role of relationship variables between SD and the outcomes of sexual satisfaction and QOL. Gender differences will also be explored. It is hypothesized that worse scores on relationship variables will be associated with poorer sexual satisfaction and QOL. A dyadic analysis will examine how a couples agreement on relationship variables corresponds to the outcomes of sexual satisfaction and QOL. Interviews will be conducted with 5 of the most and 5 of the least satisfied couples to determine what factors might be important in developing a couples intervention. Year 2: Based on these findings, a couples intervention will be designed and pilot tested to increase QOL and sexual satisfaction among couples. Research into the development of an intervention for couples with MS is crucial given the dearth of research on interventions for this chronically ill population.