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

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.