Abstract
Background
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term condition that affects the central nervous system and typically manifests in individuals during their youth. Stigma poses significant psychosocial challenges for patients with MS, leading to negative impacts on their personal and social lives. However, limited research has been conducted on the experiences of individuals and the influence of MS stigmatization on marriage. This study focused on unmarried individuals aged 20–40 years in Iran to determine the prevalence of societal stigma and their intention to marry an individual affected by MS.
Methods
A researcher-designed questionnaire was utilized to collect data from 343 unmarried individuals in a prospective cross-sectional study. We conducted an in-person interview to gather their overall understanding of MS and their views on marrying someone with MS. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic variables and measured the degree of stigmatization toward MS, by including concerns related to marriage with MS patients.
Results
The results showed that stigmatization attitudes and concerns existed among the participants as much as 85%, including worries about physical disability, treatment costs, potential transmission of MS to future children, unemployment, and dismissal. The study findings suggested the inquiry of MS patients in managing stigmas effectively, as well as increasing social awareness regarding MS.
Conclusions
This study contributes to the understanding of the social implications of MS and provides insights for developing strategies to address societal stigma and improve the quality of life for MS patients. By raising awareness and providing support in society, it is feasible to establish an inclusive and accepting environment that enables individuals with MS to experience an improved quality of life and reduced stigma in various social areas, such as relationships and marriage.