In a sample of 50 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), participants able to work full-time ('W'), those who reduced their hours ('CB') and those who were unemployed ('NW') were compared on demographic and disease variables and symptoms that the participants identified as being responsible for their work status change. The NW group had significantly greater physical disability than the other two groups and significantly more fatigue than the W group. The CB group had significantly more years of education and higher occupational prestige ratings than the NW group. The W group reported significantly greater mood disturbance compared with the NW group. Employment status was unrelated to age, gender, full scale IQ estimate, disease duration, diagnosis duration or cognitive functioning. Ninety per cent of the CB group reported that fatigue was a primary symptom responsible for their work status change, whereas 86% of the NW group reported that broad physical/neurological symptoms were responsible for their change in work status.
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Me, I'm reluctantly W and definitely affected by "mood disturbances." I used to be a CB in my old job, though I probably spend less time on task in my current full-time job. I feel a little trapped: my disability insurance only covers total disability, so going part-time means taking a pay cut in the short run. It also means that if I get to the point where I'm unable to work at all, my benefits would be based on my part-time salary, not my original full-time pay. Financially, I feel like it's in my interests to work full-time until I keel over. That way, I'd get disability checks equal to 80% of my present salary, not 80% of 75% of my present salary. Perhaps this explains some of the prevalence of mood disturbances among us W's.
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