The relationship between self-efficacy and health promoting behaviors, illness severity, mental health, and perceived quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

Author

Anna Finn, Lake Forest College

Periodical Title

Modern Psychological Studies

Volume

11

Number

2

Page Numbers

pages 12-24

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

2006

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is an incurable, debilitating, nervous system disease, which causes are largely unknown, and which affects hundreds of thousands of people across the United States. Early research suggests the impact that psychological factors can have on a patient's physical and mental health status. Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to cope with a situation, has been found to offer beneficial and protective effects in patients suffering from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease, and fibromylagia. This comprehensive literature review sought to look at psychological research that has considered the relationship between self-efficacy and health promoting behaviors, symptom and overall illness severity, mental health status, and perceived quality of life in people suffering from multiple sclerosis. The literature strongly supports a relationship between self-efficacy and health promoting behaviors. The literature was ambiguous as to a relationship between self-efficacy and illness severity—with some studies finding a significant relationship and others not. The literature reviewed also suggests a potential relationship between self-efficacy and other cognitive components such as mental health status, mood control, and self-esteem. The literature supports a relationship between self-efficacy and perceived quality of life.

Subject

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

13 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

BF1 .M63 v. 11 no. 2 2006

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Recommended Citation

Finn, Anna (2006) "The relationship between self-efficacy and health promoting behaviors, illness severity, mental health, and perceived quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 11: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol11/iss2/3