Investigation of Diet on Mental Well-Being by Health Hardiness Mediation among Women Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a chronic disease with sudden and unpredictable onset reduces the mental well-being in different emotional, psychological and social dimensions. The present study aims at investigating of diet on mental well-being by health hardiness mediation among women suffering from MS.

The present study used descriptive research method from correlation and Structural Equation Model (SE) type. The statistical population of the study are all women suffering from MS referred to Tehran specialized clinics in 2018. The number of 60 women selected through convenience sampling method. Concern Over Weight and Dieting Scale (COWD) by Kagan and Squires, Health Hardiness Inventory (HHI) by Gebhardt and colleagues and Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS) by Kiz and Magiarmo were data collecting instruments. The hypotheses of this study tested by means of Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method.

Results out of investigating the direct effects of variables showed that there is a direct and significant relationship between diet and mental well-being, between mental well-being and health hardiness and between health hardiness and mental well-being (p<0/05). Considering indirect effect, there is a significant relationship between diet and mental well-being by health hardiness mediation to 0/25 (p<0/05).

According to the results of the study, in order to increase the mental well-being of patients with multiple sclerosis, it is recommended to pay attention to the role of diet and psychological factors such as health hardiness mediation.