Journal
CHRONIC ILLNESS
Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 160-172Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/1742395307087457
Keywords
Disability; Household; Multiple sclerosis; Social and economic impact
Categories
Funding
- MS Society [711/02]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective: To examine the relationship between the social and economic impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) and levels of MS-related disability upon households in the following domains: household composition, housing modification, employment, standard of living, children, intimate and close relationships, and social life. Methods: A national sample of people with MS (pwMS) (n = 920), consisting of members of the MS Society and those accessing the MS Society website, completed a cross-sectional survey to generate quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Over three-quarters of the sample reported that MS had impacted on at least some areas of daily life. The reported impact increased significantly in a linear fashion in each domain with increasing disability, as measured by an activities of daily living index, although there was a discernible 'levelling off' in terms of impact in some domains among those at the higher levels of disability and dependency. Analysis of the qualitative data suggests that this impact can be conceptualized as a gradual process of 'restricting choices' and 'limiting independence' for both pwMS and their households. Discussion: MS restricts social and economic opportunities for pwMS and those who they live with. These findings extend the literature to households to illustrate the impact of MS not only on pwMS but also on their partners, children and other family members.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available