Subjective Well-Being of Adults With Multiple Sclerosis During COVID-19: Evaluating Stress–Appraisal–Coping and Person–Environment Factorsz

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been coping with high levels of stress during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, affecting their employment, physical, and mental health, and overall life satisfaction. Objective: This study evaluated constructs of the stress–appraisal–coping theory and positive person–environment factors as predictors of subjective well-being for adults with MS. Method: Participants included 477 adults with MS recruited through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the incremental variance in subjective well-being accounted for by demographic covariates, functional disability, perceived stress, stress appraisal, coping styles, and positive person–environment contextual factors. Results: Positive stress appraisal and coping flexibility were significantly associated with subjective well-being at the bivariate correlation level and at the step they were entered into the regression model. Marital status, household income, functional disability, perceived stress, hope, core self-evaluations, and social support were significant predictors in the final model, accounting for 60% of the variance in subjective well-being scores (R2 =.60, f 2 = 1.48; large effect size). Conclusions: Findings from this study support a stress management and well-being model based on constructs of Lazarus and Folkman’s stress–appraisal–coping theory and positive person–environment contextual factors, which can inform the development of theory-driven and empirically supported stress management and wellbeing interventions for people with MS during the ongoing global health crisis.