Social support moderates quality of life outcomes during a mind-body intervention among adults with neurofibromatosis.

PURPOSE

Neurofibromatoses (NF; NF1, NF2-related schwannomatosis, and other forms) are incurable genetic disorders linked to poor quality of life (QoL). Limited research exists on social support as a protective factor for QoL in NF. This secondary analysis examined whether baseline social support moderates QoL outcomes in individuals with NF.

METHODS

Participants (N = 228, M=41.5, 75% female) were randomized to 3RP-NF (a mind-body resiliency intervention) or HEP-NF (control). Measures of social support and QoL (environmental, social, physical, psychological) were collected at baseline, post-test, and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Individuals with higher baseline social support reported consistently higher QoL across both interventions, achieving clinically meaningful improvement, while those with low social support did not. No significant 3-way interactions were found between time, social support, and group from baseline to post-test (ps = 0.13-0.83) or follow-up (ps = 0.21-0.69). However, exploratory analyses showed a significant interaction between time and baseline social support for the 3RP-NF group in social, environmental, and psychological QoL at post-test (ps = 0.02-0.05), with a sustained effect at follow-up for social QoL (p = .01). No such effects were found in the HEP-NF group (ps = 0.25-0.68).

CONCLUSION

In adults with NF, baseline social support moderates social and environmental QoL in mind-body interventions. Enhancing social support early may particularly benefit individuals with initially low support, though further research is needed to identify effective strategies for achieving clinically meaningful changes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03406208. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03406208.