The effect of social support on quality of life for tinnitus sufferers.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between tinnitus severity, social support and three quality of life measures. BACKGROUND DATA Research into other conditions shows that social support helps achieve positive outcomes and improved quality of life. For tinnitus, research suggests social support does not impact on quality of life outcomes. However, research has been limited and the measures used have mixed tinnitus severity, tinnitus handicap and social support into one measure. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship using separate measures. METHODS One hundred fifty-four tinnitus sufferers (63.7% males, 36.3% females, Age M = 46.4, SD = 14.97) completed the assessment battery. Three sequential multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that social support moderates the effects of tinnitus severity on each of the dependent variables: tinnitus handicap, depression and general well-being. RESULTS The severity of one's tinnitus significantly predicted tinnitus handicap, depression and general well-being, but social support did not moderate the relationship. Social support did have a direct relationship on level of depression and general well-being. CONCLUSION Tinnitus handicaps appear to be unique but tinnitus sufferers do gain significant benefits from social support.