This article describes and presents an initial analysis of a quality-of-life—based model of psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability. This model, termed disability centrality, represents a conceptual and theoretical synthesis of several existing theories and models, drawn from the quality-of-life, rehabilitation counseling, and rehabilitation psychology literature. The model was analyzed in a cross-sectional analysis using survey-based research among 72 college students with disabilities. The results supported the relationships hypothesized in the proposed model. The implications for clinical practice and further research concerning the psychosocial adaptation process are presented.

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Customized interventions from allied health professionals and rehabilitation counselors that are grounded in the unique features of MS and that reflect current best practices in Vocational Rehabilitation are required to improve rehabilitation outcomes for people with MS.

Self-management has been shown to increase perceived control over both illness and nonillness aspects of life among people with chronic conditions but has not received significant research attention among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on relationships proposed in the illness intrusiveness and disability centrality models, this study explored the relationships between subjective and objective measures of MS impact, self-management, perceived control, and subjective quality of life (SQOL). A sample of 157 adults with MS participated in this research. The results suggest that self-management is strongly associated with perceived control and that both perceived control and self-management mediate the relationship between MS impact and SQOL. The rehabilitation counseling implications of these findings are discussed.

The MSSM, as revised, is a brief, psychometrically sound, and multidimensional self-management scale for research and clinical applications.

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Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have identified “wellness” and associated behaviors as a high priority based on “social media listening” undertaken by the National MS Society (i.e. the Society). Objective The Society recently convened a group that consisted of researchers with experience in MS and wellness-related research, Society staff members, and an individual with MS for developing recommendations regarding a wellness research agenda. Method The members of the group engaged in focal reviews and discussions involving the state of science within three approaches for promoting wellness in MS, namely diet, exercise, and emotional wellness. Results That process informed a group-mediated activity for developing and prioritizing research goals for wellness in MS. This served as a background for articulating the mission and objectives of the Society’s Wellness Research Working Group. Conclusion The primary mission of the Wellness Research Working Group is the provision of scientific evidence supporting the application of lifestyle, behavioral, and psychosocial approaches for promoting optimal health of mind, body, and spirit (i.e. wellness) in people with MS as well as managing the disease and its consequences.