Predictors of Change in Employment Status and Associations with Quality of Life: A Prospective International Study of People with Multiple Sclerosis

• DOI: 10.1007/s10926-019-09850-5
• Publication Date: 2019-08-07T07:03:02Z
• Authors: Claudia H. Marck; Zoe Aitken; Steve Simpson; Tracey J. Weiland; Anne Kavanagh; George A. Jelinek
• Keywords: Health psychology; Sample (material)

Purpose This prospective international study aimed to assess the changes in employment, and predictors thereof, associated change mental health quality of life people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods People MS were recruited online through social media, forums newsletters complete an English-language survey 2012 again 2015, employment clinical characteristics. Results 1276 working age included whom 35.9% employed full time, 25.6% part-time, 3.1% unemployed seeking 19.7% retired due disability 15.7% not labour force. Part/full time decreased from 61.4 57.1% sample 2.5 years later, 25.5% experienced some status. Lower level education higher at baseline predicted loss follow-up. 62.0% indicated that impacted on over their lifetime, a lower progressive diagnosis. Retiring was predictive related QOL score. Conclusion Employment status negatively by for most participants. We showed first prospectively poorer life. support including vocational services, reasonable flexibility workplace, legal protection against discrimination should be widely available assist MS, especially those onset levels who are risk loss.