The Relationship Between Sensitivity to Anxiety and Executive Functions and Quality of Life of MS Patients: Path Analysis Pattern

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is affected by cognitive and emotional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sensitivity to anxiety and executive functions and the Quality of Life (QoL) of MS patients using path analysis. Methods: This descriptive correlational research was done on all patients with MS in Gorgan MS Association in 2020. The sample size was considered to be 290 people according to the sample selection formula and based on the values obtained from the previous study selected by simple random sampling. To collect data, the Executive Functions Questionnaire of Nejati (2013), QoL questionnaire of McGuigan Hutchinson (2004), and Sensitivity to Anxiety Questionnaires of Taylor and Cox (1998) were used. Path analysis with SPSS v. 18 and AMOS v. 23 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the executive functions had a positive relationship with QoL in MS patients and sensitivity to anxiety had a negative relationship with QoL in MS patients. Also, mediating role of the anxiety sensitivity variable in the relationship between executive functions with QoL in MS patients was confirmed (P≤0.01). Conclusion: The present study indicated the importance of cognitive factors, such as executive functions, and emotional factors, such as sensitivity to anxiety in explaining the QoL in MS patients.