The Role of Coping Style and Cognitive Reserve in Depression and Cognitive Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis
Open Access
- Author:
- Hochberg, Aaron
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Peter Andrew Arnett, Thesis Supervisor
Frank Gerard Hillary, Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Multiple Sclerosis
MS
Depression
Coping
Neuropsychology
Psychology
Clinical
Cognitive Reserve
Cognitive Functioning - Abstract:
- Introduction: Cognitive impairment and depression are extremely prevalent in persons with MS, and both are exceptionally detrimental to the quality of life for these individuals. Previous research has shown that cognitive reserve and coping can moderate and/or mediate the relationship between cognitive impairment and depression; however, researchers have yet to consider how cognitive reserve and coping relate to each other, and the relationship that might exist among cognitive reserve, coping, cognitive functioning, and depression. The purpose of this study was to explore a mediating and/or moderating relationship, where coping mediated/moderated the relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive functioning/depression. Methods: The sample consisted of 54 individuals with MS who were brought in for neuropsychological testing. For mediation, Baron and Kenny’s (1986) method of analysis was used. A 95% confidence interval for the indirect effect was tested using a bootstrapping analysis. For moderation, a series of regression analyses were used, controlling for disease severity at step 1, cognitive reserve at step 2, coping at step 3, and the interaction at step 4. Results: Coping was found to be a significant mediator, but not a significant moderator, of the relationship between cognitive reserve and depression. Additionally, coping was not found to be a significant mediator or moderator of the relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive functioning. Discussion: Results suggest that high cognitive reserve protects against cognitive impairment and allows for the recruitment of mental resources necessary to engage in high adaptive coping. Further, coping may serve as a viable source of clinical intervention to treat depression in patients with MS.