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. 2022 Sep 4;8(3):20552173221116282.
doi: 10.1177/20552173221116282. eCollection 2022 Jul-Sep.

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

Eea van Egmond  1   2   3   4 , K van der Hiele  2 , Dam van Gorp  4 , P J Jongen  5   6 , Jjl van der Klink  7   8 , M F Reneman  9 , Eac Beenakker  10 , Jjj van Eijk  11 , Stfm Frequin  12 , K de Gans  13 , B M van Geel  14 , Ohh Gerlach  15   16   17 , Gjd Hengstman  18 , J P Mostert  19 , Wim Verhagen  20 , Ham Middelkoop  2   21 , L H Visser  1   4
Affiliations

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

Eea van Egmond et al. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. .

Abstract

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 (10,205) = 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 (10,205) = 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.

Keywords: anxiety; coping behaviour; depression; employment; multiple sclerosis; work.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Disclosure: E. van Egmond, K. van der Hiele, D. van Gorp, J. van der Klink, M. Reneman, E. Beenakker, K. de Gans, B.M. van Geel, O. Gerlach, J. Mostert, and H. Middelkoop report no conflict of interest. P. Jongen received honoraria from Bayer Netherlands and Orikami Personalized Health Care, Netherlands, for consultancy activities and is chairman of the MSmonitor foundation, Netherlands. J. van Eijk received honoraria for lectures and honoraria for advisory boards from Sanofi Genzyme, Roche, Merck Serono, Novartis and Teva. S. Frequin received honoraria for lectures, grants for research and honoraria for advisory boards from Sanofi Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Biogen and Roche. G. Hengstman has received consultation fees and grants from Biogen, BMS, Genzyme-Sanofi, Merck BV, Novartis Pharma and Roche. W. Verhagen received honoraria for lectures from Biogen and Merck Serono, reimbursement for hospitality from Biogen, Sanofi Genzyme and Merck Serono, and honoraria for advisory boards from Merck Serono. L.H. Visser received honoraria for lectures and honoraria for advisory boards from Merck Serono and Novartis.

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