Health status, work impediments, and coping related to work roles of women with multiple sclerosis

This study, guided by stress-appraisal and coping theory, compared health status, perceived impediments to work, and coping strategies used by young (<45 years) and middle-age (45-64 years) women with multiple sclerosis (MS) with respect to three major work roles (employed, homemaker, unemployed). Subjects, 408 women below age 65, completed by mail two measures of health status (activities of daily living scale (ADL) and MS-related symptoms scale), work impediments scale, and work enhancer scale (a measure of coping strategies). Using ANCOVA with control for education and duration of MS since diagnosis, results indicated lower ADL functioning and increased MS-related symptoms and work impediments among middle-age compared to young women (all P<0.05). For work roles, despite no age differences, unemployed women had lower ADL functioning, more motor symptoms, and perceived more work impediments than homemakers and employed women (all P<0.05). Overall, the unemployed used more work coping strategies than homemakers or employed women. Findings from the comparison of women <45 years of age with respect to both parent status and work role on health status, perceived work impediments, and coping variables are also presented. Knowledge of health status, perceived work impediments, and available coping strategies of women with MS with respect to their various work roles is essential for health providers in planning relevant interventions.