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Peer support needs and engagement among people with multiple sclerosis: Associations with social support, loneliness and wellbeing: A cross-sectional study.

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Title: Peer support needs and engagement among people with multiple sclerosis: Associations with social support, loneliness and wellbeing: A cross-sectional study.
Authors: Alaboson J; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland., Coffey L; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland., Maguire R; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.
Source: Journal of health psychology [J Health Psychol] 2026 Aug; Vol. 31 (9), pp. 3777-3791. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 15.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Sage Publications Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9703616 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1461-7277 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13591053 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Health Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London ; Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications, 1996-
MeSH Terms: Multiple Sclerosis*/psychology , Loneliness*/psychology , Social Support* , Peer Group*, Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychological Well-Being ; Ireland ; Adult ; Aged
Abstract: Peer support may improve wellbeing in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study examined associations between peer support, social support, loneliness and wellbeing in PwMS, along with sociodemographic and health predictors of peer support need and engagement in online and in-person contexts. A cross-sectional survey, co-designed with public and patient involvement, was deployed among 218 PwMS in Ireland, with regression analyses used to explore predictors of needs for, and engagement with, peer support. Increasing disability levels and fewer years with MS were associated with higher peer support need. Wellbeing was significantly yet weakly positively correlated with in-person peer support engagement (rs = 0.1967, p = 0.005). However, only loneliness and social support were significant predictors of wellbeing, accounting for approximately 40% of the variance. Overall, PwMS need peer support, yet reported low engagement with peers. While no clear associations with wellbeing were established, findings suggest that peer support may improve psychosocial experiences in MS.
Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: loneliness; multiple sclerosis; peer support; social support; wellbeing
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260116 Date Completed: 20260714 Latest Revision: 20260726
Update Code: 20260726
PubMed Central ID: PMC13365319
DOI: 10.1177/13591053251392873
PMID: 41540792
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Peer support needs and engagement among people with multiple sclerosis: Associations with social support, loneliness and wellbeing: A cross-sectional study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Alaboson+J%22">Alaboson J</searchLink>; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Coffey+L%22">Coffey L</searchLink>; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Maguire+R%22">Maguire R</searchLink>; Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%229703616%22">Journal of health psychology</searchLink> [J Health Psychol] 2026 Aug; Vol. 31 (9), pp. 3777-3791. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Jan 15.
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  Data: <i>Publisher: </i><searchLink fieldCode="PB" term="%22Sage+Publications%22">Sage Publications </searchLink><i>Country of Publication: </i>England <i>NLM ID: </i>9703616 <i>Publication Model: </i>Print-Electronic <i>Cited Medium: </i>Internet <i>ISSN: </i>1461-7277 (Electronic) <i>Linking ISSN: </i><searchLink fieldCode="IS" term="%2213591053%22">13591053 </searchLink><i>NLM ISO Abbreviation: </i>J Health Psychol <i>Subsets: </i>MEDLINE
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  Data: <i>Original Publication</i>: London ; Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications, 1996-
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Multiple+Sclerosis%22">Multiple Sclerosis*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Multiple+Sclerosis+psychology%22">psychology</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Loneliness+psychology%22">psychology</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Social+Support%22">Social Support*</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Peer+Group%22">Peer Group*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Humans%22">Humans</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Cross-Sectional+Studies%22">Cross-Sectional Studies</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Female%22">Female</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Male%22">Male</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Middle+Aged%22">Middle Aged</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Psychological+Well-Being%22">Psychological Well-Being</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ireland%22">Ireland</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Adult%22">Adult</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Aged%22">Aged</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Peer support may improve wellbeing in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study examined associations between peer support, social support, loneliness and wellbeing in PwMS, along with sociodemographic and health predictors of peer support need and engagement in online and in-person contexts. A cross-sectional survey, co-designed with public and patient involvement, was deployed among 218 PwMS in Ireland, with regression analyses used to explore predictors of needs for, and engagement with, peer support. Increasing disability levels and fewer years with MS were associated with higher peer support need. Wellbeing was significantly yet weakly positively correlated with in-person peer support engagement (r<subscript>s</subscript> = 0.1967, p = 0.005). However, only loneliness and social support were significant predictors of wellbeing, accounting for approximately 40% of the variance. Overall, PwMS need peer support, yet reported low engagement with peers. While no clear associations with wellbeing were established, findings suggest that peer support may improve psychosocial experiences in MS.
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Competing Interests
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  Data: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>loneliness; multiple sclerosis; peer support; social support; wellbeing
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  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20260116 <i>Date Completed: </i>20260714 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20260726
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  Data: 10.1177/13591053251392873
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  Data: 41540792
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=41540792
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        Value: 10.1177/13591053251392873
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        StartPage: 3777
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Humans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-Sectional Studies
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      – SubjectFull: Female
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Male
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      – SubjectFull: Middle Aged
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      – SubjectFull: Adult
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aged
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multiple Sclerosis psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Group
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Peer support needs and engagement among people with multiple sclerosis: Associations with social support, loneliness and wellbeing: A cross-sectional study.
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            NameFull: Alaboson J
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            NameFull: Coffey L
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            – D: 01
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              Text: 2026 Aug
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 9
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