An analysis of the relationship between stress, self-efficacy, social support, and health-related quality of life among women living with interstitial cystitis in the United States

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between stress, self-efficacy, social support, and health-related quality of life among women living with interstitial cystitis (IC) in the United States (U.S.). In addition, this study examined self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between stress and health-related quality of life and social support as a moderator of the impact of self-efficacy on health-related quality of life in women living with IC when controlling for stress. IC is a chronic condition with the potential for substantial impact on quality of life.;Using a systematic and purposive approach, a sample of 1,387 women living with IC was recruited to complete a cross-sectional, web-based, anonymous instrument. This instrument contained 155 items, measuring health-related quality of life, social support, stress, self-efficacy, disease severity, co-morbidity, and a variety of demographic variables. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient tests, and Linear Regression were used to analyze the data.;Findings revealed statistically significant correlations between social support, stress, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life. In addition, self-efficacy was found to be a statistically significant partial mediator of the relationship between stress and health-related quality of life. Contradictory to the theoretical and evidentiary literature, social support was not found to be a moderator of the relationship between self-efficacy and health-related quality of life. Both qualitative and intervention research are warranted in order to better understand these relationships, as well as how to affect health-related quality of life in this population.