*3.5. PSS-10 and Brief-COPE Results*

The mean PSS-10 score in the study group was 19.99 (range: 1–40). According to the sten scale, 48 subjects (16.7%) had a low level of perceived stress, 80 (27.9%) with a moderate level and 159 (55.4%) with a high level (Figure 1).

The mean PSS-10 score in the respondents to the online version of the survey was significantly higher than in the respondents to the printed version (21.78, SD 6.8 vs. 18.56, SD 6.77, *p* < 0.0001).

According to the Brief-COPE results from the study group, the most commonly used coping strategies were: acceptance, planning and positive reframing. Substance use, behavioral disengagement, religious coping or denial were the least frequently used ones (Figure 2). With regard to the main categories of coping, problem-focused strategies were more preferred than emotion-focused ones (1.76 vs. 1.16). (Figure 2). The respondents to the online version of the survey less often used emotion-focused coping strategies than the respondents to the printed version (1.07 vs. 1.24, *p* = 0.01).

**Figure 2.** Use of coping strategies according to the Brief-COPE results in the study group.

*3.6. Relationships of PSS-10 and Brief-COPE Results with Other Variables*

The PSS-10 score negatively correlated with age (R = −0.150, *p* = 0.011) and was higher in females than in males (20.94 vs. 17.52, *p* < 0.0001). The patients who declared increased frequency/severity of their major MS-related symptoms, had higher PSS-10 score than the remaining ones (21.92 vs. 18.06, *p* < 0.0001), and such significant difference was observed for those with comorbidities (*p* = 0.0386). No other relationships were found between PSS-10 score and demographic or clinical factors.

Significantly higher level of stress in PSS-10 was associated with health care-related shortcomings (21.12 vs. 17.98, *p* = 0.0010), work-related problems (22.58 vs. 18.69, *p* = 0.000024), financial difficulties (22.70 vs. 18.83, *p* = 0.000024), family-related problems (22.54 vs. 17.73, *p* = 0.000000) and a need for extra help in daily activities (23.65 vs. 19.72, *p* = 0.0155).

There was a significant negative correlation between level of stress in PSS-10 and a preference for problem-focused coping strategies (R = −0.1293, *p* = 0.0284).

Emotion-focused strategies were more frequently used by females (1.23 vs. 0.97, *p* = 0.0012). The respondents with moderate and severe functional disability more often than the others used problem-focused strategies (*p* = 0.049). The patients who experienced increase in major MS symptoms, less often had substance use (*p* = 0.0428), behavioral disengagement (*p* = 0.0032) and self-blame strategies (*p* = 0.0395) than the remaining ones. A need for help in daily living was significantly associated with the use of problem-focused (2.04 vs. 1.42, *p* = 0.0401) and emotion-focused strategies (1.42 vs. 1.14, *p* = 0.0378).

No other relationships were found between the PSS-10 or Brief-COPE results and demographic, clinical or pandemic-related factors.
