Study of Perceived Social Support and its Predictors in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome can result in poor quality of life due to different reasons. Therefore, attention to perceived social support and its associated factors can be beneficial for these patients. This study aimed to determine the level of perceived social support and its predictors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 181 women with polycystic ovary syndrome, referred to Firoozabadi Hospital and Firoozgar Hospital in Tehran, Iran, using continuous sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Zimet’s Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The collected data were finally analyzed in SPSS version 22.

The mean score of perceived social support was 5.18±1.01, and the mean scores of its domains including family, friends, and significant others were 5.58±1.40, 4.38±1.55, and 5.58±1.28, respectively. Perceived social support was significantly correlated with the husband’s satisfaction with the woman’s body and appearance, marital status, drug use, and having a companion. According to the multiple linear regression model, marital status (P=0.005), drug use (P=0.003), and having a companion (P=0.006) were significantly correlated with the mean perceived social support. These variables predicted 12% of the total score of perceived social support.

The present results showed that perceived social support is associated with the husband’s satisfaction with the womanchr('39')s body and appearance, marital status, drug use, and having a companion to communicate with. Overall, attention to these influential variables in the design of counselling and training programs, along with other treatment methods for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, is essential.