Social Support Among Veterans With Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To describe perceived social support and its correlates among veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) and explore gender differences in these relationships. Study Design: Cohort study linking computerized medical records and survey questionnaire. Participants: Four hundred fifty-one veterans. Outcome Measure: Total and subscale scores from the Medical Outcomes Study Modified Social Support Survey. Results: Participants who were male, married, living with someone, and/or had a relapsing-remitting disease course reported greater social support. Married men reported higher levels of 4 of 5 types of support than married women. Higher income was associated with greater total social support for women. Conclusion: Although veterans with MS report moderate total support, the authors recommend support-enhancing interventions tailored by gender and marital status.