Self-reported work productivity in people with multiple sclerosis and its association with mental and physical health

Purpose This study aimed to identify mental health, physical health, demographic and disease characteristics relating to work productivity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 236 employed people with MS (median age = 42 years, 78.8% female) underwent neurological and neuropsychological assessments. Additionally, they completed questionnaires inquiring about work productivity (presenteeism: reduced productivity while working, and absenteeism: loss of productivity due to absence from work), mental and physical health, demographic and disease characteristics. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed with presenteeism and absenteeism as dependent variables, respectively. Results A model with mental and physical health factors significantly predicted presenteeism F(11,202) = 11.33, p < 0.001, R-2 = 0.38; a higher cognitive (p < 0.001) and physical impact (p = 0.042) of fatigue were associated with more presenteeism. A model with only mental health factors significantly predicted absenteeism; chi(2)(11)=37.72, p < 0.001, with R-2 = 0.27 (Nagelkerke) and R-2 = 0.16 (Cox and Snell). Specifically, we observed that more symptoms of depression (p = 0.041) and a higher cognitive impact of fatigue (p = 0.011) were significantly associated with more absenteeism. Conclusions In people with MS, both cognitive and physical impact of fatigue are positively related to presenteeism, while symptoms of depression and cognitive impact of fatigue are positively related to absenteeism.Neurological Motor Disorder

A Dutch validation study of the Multiple Sclerosis Work difficulties questionnaire in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Health and self-regulatio

Self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: does personality matter?

Health and self-regulatio

Work difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis: The role of anxiety, depression and coping

Background Symptoms of anxiety and depression affect the daily life of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study examined work difficulties and their relationship with anxiety, depression and coping style in people with MS. Methods 219 employed people with MS (median age = 43 years, 79% female) completed questionnaires on anxiety, depression, coping style, demographics and work difficulties, and underwent a neurological examination. Two regression analyses were performed with work difficulties as the dependent variable and either anxiety or depression as continuous independent variables. Coping style, age, gender, educational level, MS-related disability and disease duration were added as additional predictors, as well as interaction terms between coping style and either symptoms of depression or anxiety. Results A significant model was found (F-(10,F-205) = 13.14, p < 0.001, R-2 = 0.39) in which anxiety, emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping and MS-related disability were positively related to work difficulties. The analysis of depression resulted in a significant model (F-(10,F-205) = 14.98, p < 0.001, R-2 = 0.42) in which depression, emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping and MS-related disability were positively related to work difficulties. None of the interaction effects were significant. Conclusions Work difficulties were positively related to anxiety, depression, emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping and MS-related disability in workers with MS.Neurological Motor Disorder

Work difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis: the role of anxiety, depression and coping

Health and self-regulatio

Subjective cognitive impairment is related to work status in people with multiple sclerosis

Health and self-regulatio

Subjective cognitive impairment is related to work status in people with multiple sclerosis

Background: Unemployment is common among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and has been associated with subjective cognitive difficulties, specifically in memory, attention, and executive functioning. However, longitudinal research on subjective cognitive difficulties and employment is scarce. Objective: We investigated whether subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), based on the clinical cut-off score of the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ), was associated with work status and negative work events (NWE) at baseline and after 2 years. Moreover, we investigated whether four MSNQ subdomains were related to work status and NWE. Methods: 287 participants (77.4% female, median age = 42 years) completed questionnaires on subjective cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). After baseline comparisons, logistic regression analyses were performed, with work status and NWE at baseline, and employment change and NWE change within 2 years after baseline as dependent variables. Independent variables included SCI and the MSNQ domains. Covariates anxiety, depression, fatigue, and SDMT were added. Results: SCI, depression and anxiety were associated with work status (Nagelkerke R2 = .286), but only SCI was associated with employment change (Nagelkerke R2 = .164). No predictors were associated with NWE at baseline or follow-up. In addition, no MSNQ subdomain was related to work status, employment change or NWE. Conclusion: Unemployed pwMS and pwMS with a deteriorated work status reported more cognitive difficulties after 2 years than employed pwMS or pwMS with a stable work status. In addition, depression, and anxiety were associated with work status

Subjective cognitive impairment is related to work status in people with multiple sclerosis

Background Unemployment is common among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and has been associated with subjective cognitive difficulties, specifically in memory, attention, and executive functioning. However, longitudinal research on subjective cognitive difficulties and employment is scarce. Objective We investigated whether subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), based on the clinical cut-off score of the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ), was associated with work status and negative work events (NWE) at baseline and after 2 years. Moreover, we investigated whether four MSNQ subdomains were related to work status and NWE. Methods 287 participants (77.4% female, median age = 42 years) completed questionnaires on subjective cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). After baseline comparisons, logistic regression analyses were performed, with work status and NWE at baseline, and employment change and NWE change within 2 years after baseline as dependent variables. Independent variables included SCI and the MSNQ domains. Covariates anxiety, depression, fatigue, and SDMT were added. Results SCI, depression and anxiety were associated with work status (Nagelkerke R2 = .286), but only SCI was associated with employment change (Nagelkerke R2 = .164). No predictors were associated with NWE at baseline or follow-up. In addition, no MSNQ subdomain was related to work status, employment change or NWE. Conclusion Unemployed pwMS and pwMS with a deteriorated work status reported more cognitive difficulties after 2 years than employed pwMS or pwMS with a stable work status. In addition, depression, and anxiety were associated with work status

Self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Does personality matter?

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) poses a major threat to sustainable employability. Identifying conditions and factors that promote work participation is of great importance. Our objective was to explore the contribution of personality traits in explaining occupational functioning in MS. Methods 241 participants with relapsing-remitting MS (78% female, median age: 42.0 years, median EDSS: 2.0) and 60 healthy controls (70% female, median age: 45.0 years) underwent neuropsychological and neurological examinations and completed questionnaires. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine relations between personality traits and self-reported occupational functioning, while accounting for known correlates. Results Personality traits were not associated with self-reported occupational functioning when correcting for known correlates. A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .005 and B = -0.04, p = .009) and depression (B = -0.22, p = .008 and B = -0.21, p = .01) were associated with no paid job (R2 = 0.13) and considering to reduce work hours (R2 = 0.12). A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .008, β = 0.46, p = .001 and β = −0.36, p = .001) was associated with absenteeism from work (R2 = 0.15), more presenteeism (R2 = 0.35) and lower work ability (R2 = 0.25). A higher impact of fatigue (β = 0.46, p = .001) and anxiety (β = 0.25, p = .001) were associated with more work difficulties (R2 = 0.54). Conclusion Personality traits did not explain additional variance in self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability. The impact of fatigue was the main and most consistent correlate of occupational functioning, often combined with depression or anxiety. Total explained variance of the models was limited, emphasizing the need to additionally examine other (contextual) factors when considering occupational challenges in MS