Factors associated with employment and expected work retention among persons with multiple sclerosis: findings of a cross-sectional citizen science study

Abstract

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) notably affects adults of working age. For persons with MS (PwMS), being employed enhances their quality of life and it may be regarded as an indicator of overall functioning. Thus, ensuring work participation in PwMS is of general public health interest. Objective To examine relevant socio-demographic, MS-, health- and work-related factors, including psychosocial working conditions, associated with currently working PwMS in Switzerland and their expected work retention. Methods Using cross-sectional data of PwMS in the Swiss MS Registry (n = 541, median age = 48 [IQR 40;55]), multivariable logistic regression models were computed. First, currently working PwMS were characterised in comparison with those not currently working. Second, expected work retention, operationalized as subjective judgement “likely to work in the same job in 2 years”, was examined within the group of currently working PwMS. Results The factors age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92–0.99), sex (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13–0.60), highest achieved job position (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01–1.46), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04) and the number of MS symptoms (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98) were associated with currently working PwMS. Moreover, HRQoL (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10) and psychosocial working conditions, such as job resources (e.g. autonomy, control or social support) (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.50–5.33) and job demands (e.g. workload, time pressure) (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.90) were important factors for expected work retention among this group. Conclusions Resourceful psychosocial working conditions are crucial for PwMS to maintain employment. Employers could contribute to work retention among PwMS by creating a work environment with resourceful psychosocial working conditions and providing, for instance, social support.

Spatial and temporal distribution of the prevalence of unemployment and early retirement in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

“…Austria [ 39 ], Czech Republic [ 40 ], Greece [ 41 ], Hungary [ 42 ], Kuwait [ 43 ], Portugal [ 44 ], Russia [ 45 ], and Argentina [ 46 ] each contributed with one (0.6%) publication reporting the prevalence of unemployed subjects. Ireland [ 47 , 48 ], Israel [ 49 , 50 ], Poland [ 51 , 52 ], and Saudi Arabia [ 53 , 54 ] contributed with two (1.3%) studies each while Brazil [ 55 – 57 ], Iran [ 58 – 60 ], Holland [ 61 – 63 ], Norway [ 11 , 64 , 65 ], and Switzerland [ 66 – 68 ] contributed with three (2.0%) studies each. Most of the data on the estimates of the prevalence comes from Canada (four, 2.6%) [ 69 – 72 ], Denmark (five, 3.3%) [ 73 – 77 ], Belgium (five, 3.3%) [ 35 , 78 – 81 ], France (five, 3.3%) [ 82 – 86 ], Spain (five, 3.3%) [ 8 , 28 , 33 , 87 , 88 ], Sweden (seven, 4.6%) [ 89 – 95 ], Germany (eight, 5.3%) [ 96 – 103 ], Australia (eight, 5.9%) [ 38 , 104 – 110 ], Italy (nine, 5.9%) [ 111 – …”

Relationship between Job Demands‐Resources and turnover intention in chronic disease – The example of multiple sclerosis

“…For people with a chronic disease in general and for pwMS in particular, however, there is lack of theory‐driven research that explains turnover. A recent study indicated the major role of job resources and job demands in expected work retention, even when considering other potential predictors (such as socio‐demographic, health‐, MS‐, and other work‐related factors) (Lehmann et al., 2020). However, this study remained exploratory, and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms on expected work retention among pwMS is still lacking.…”

Disabled in Society - A Scoping Review on Persons Living with Multiple Sclerosis and Disability

“…Women and older persons with MS are more likely to be unemployed. 34 They are also more likely to file an allegation of discrimination. 35 By contrast, an Australian study found no differences in employment discrimination regarding gender or age.…”

“…Both female gender and higher age were negatively associated with employment. 34 Women and older persons with MS were also more likely to experience discrimination. 35 The results were in line with research on age-related employment discrimination among the general population, where older persons and especially older women received fewer callbacks from employers with vacancies in various occupations.…”