Affiliations: Kent State University, Center for Disability Studies,
Department of Educational Foundations and Special Services, 413 White Hall,
P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. Tel.: +1 330 672 0600; Fax: +1 330
672 2512; E-mail: [email protected] | University of Arkansas, Department of Rehabilitation,
Human Resources, and Communication Disorders, Fayetteville, AR, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author
Abstract: This study evaluated the strength of illness-related,
employment-related, and psychosocial variables as predictors of quality of life
(QOL) among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). An ex post facto, multiple
correlational investigation was conducted with 1,310 people with MS who were
members of the National MS Society. A questionnaire developed by the
researchers included (a) demographic and illness-related items with both fixed
and open response sets and (b) a QOL scale that asked respondents to rate on a
scale of 1 (totally unsatisfying) to 7 (completely satisfying) their levels of
satisfaction in major life areas. A backward stepwise multiple regression
analysis revealed a model of vocational rehabilitation-related predictors in
which QOL was found to be positively related to educational level and
employment status and negatively related to number of symptoms, persistence of
symptoms, and perceived stress level. The model explained 42.9 percent of the
variance in QOL scores.
Keywords: quality of life, vocational rehabilitation
