Personality traits are not associated with changes in employment status over 3 years in persons with multiple sclerosis

K van der Hiele; Eea van Egmond; Dam van Gorp; P J Jongen; M F Reneman; Jjl van der Klink; Eac Beenakker; Jjj van Eijk; Stfm Frequin; E Hoitsma; Ohh Gerlach; J P Mostert; Wim Verhagen; Map Heerings; Ham Middelkoop; L H Visser

doi:10.1177/20552173221145576

Personality traits are not associated with changes in employment status over 3 years in persons with multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2022 Dec 19;8(4):20552173221145576. doi: 10.1177/20552173221145576. eCollection 2022 Oct-Dec.

Authors

K van der Hiele¹, Eea van Egmond^{1

2

3

4}, Dam van Gorp², P J Jongen^{5

6}, M F Reneman⁷, Jjl van der Klink^{8

9}, Eac Beenakker¹⁰, Jjj van Eijk¹¹, Stfm Frequin¹², E Hoitsma¹³, Ohh Gerlach¹⁴, J P Mostert¹⁵, Wim Verhagen¹⁶, Map Heerings¹⁷, Ham Middelkoop^{1

18}, L H Visser^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Department of Care Ethics, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
³ National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
⁵ MS4 Research Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Community & Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Centre for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Centre for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
⁹ Optentia, North West University of South Africa, Vanderbijlspark, South Africa.
¹⁰ Department of Neurology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
¹¹ Department of Neurology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
¹² Department of Neurology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
¹³ Department of Neurology, Alrijne Hospital Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.
¹⁴ Department of Neurology, Zuyderland Medical Centre, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.
¹⁵ Department of Neurology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
¹⁶ Department of Neurology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
¹⁷ Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
¹⁸ Department of Neurology & Neuropsychology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Previous research discovered a protective effect of higher conscientiousness against a 3-year deterioration in employment status in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). To replicate these findings, we used data from a multicentre prospective cohort study where 145 employed pwMS completed questionnaires, neurological and neuropsychological examinations at baseline and after 3 years. A 3-year deterioration in employment status was reported in 31.0%. We observed no differences in personality, demographics or clinical characteristics between pwMS with deteriorated or stable employment status. These null findings may be partly explained by the classification of deteriorated employment status, which does not reflect Dutch labour conditions.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; employment status; fatigue; mood; personality; prospective study.