Affiliations: [a]
University of Kentucky, Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, Lexington, KY, USA | [b] Center for Disability Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA | [c] Independent Rehabilitation Consultant, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Malachy Bishop, 208B Taylor Education Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. Tel.: +1 859 257 3834; Fax: +1 859 257 3835; E-mail: mbishop@uky.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:This article presents a replication of Rumrill, Roessler, and Fitzgerald’s 2004 analysis of a three-factor model of the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on quality of life (QOL). The three factors in the original model included illness-related, employment-related, and psychosocial adjustment factors. OBJECTIVE:To test hypothesized relationships between QOL and illness-related, employment-related, and psychosocial variables using data from a survey of the employment concerns of Americans with MS (N = 1,839). METHODS:An ex post facto, multiple correlational design was employed incorporating correlational and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS:QOL was positively related to educational level, employment status, job satisfaction, and job-match, and negatively related to number of symptoms, severity of symptoms, and perceived stress level. The three-factor model explained approximately 37 percent of the variance in QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this replication confirm the continuing value of the three-factor model for predicting the QOL of adults with MS, and demonstrate the importance of medical, mental health, and vocational rehabilitation interventions and services in promoting QOL.
