Self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Does personality matter?

K van der Hiele; D A M van Gorp; E E A van Egmond; P J Jongen; M F Reneman; J J L van der Klink; E P J Arnoldus; E A C Beenakker; J J J van Eijk; S T F M Frequin; K de Gans; G J D Hengstman; E Hoitsma; O H H Gerlach; W I M Verhagen; M A P Heerings; H A M Middelkoop; L H Visser

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2021.117561

Self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Does personality matter?

J Neurol Sci. 2021 Aug 15:427:117561. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117561. Epub 2021 Jun 29.

Authors

K van der Hiele¹, D A M van Gorp², E E A van Egmond³, P J Jongen⁴, M F Reneman⁵, J J L van der Klink⁶, E P J Arnoldus⁷, E A C Beenakker⁸, J J J van Eijk⁹, S T F M Frequin¹⁰, K de Gans¹¹, G J D Hengstman¹², E Hoitsma¹³, O H H Gerlach¹⁴, W I M Verhagen¹⁵, M A P Heerings¹⁶, H A M Middelkoop¹⁷, L H Visser¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: hiele@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
² University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
³ Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden, the Netherlands; University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands; National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Department of Neurology, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
⁴ MS4 Research Institute, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Community & Occupational Medicine, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁵ University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Centre for Rehabilitation, Haren, the Netherlands.
⁶ Tilburg University, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Optentia, North West University of South Africa, Vanderbijlspark, South Africa.
⁷ Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Department of Neurology, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
⁸ Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Department of Neurology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
⁹ Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Department of Neurology's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
¹⁰ St. Antonius Hospital, Department of Neurology, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.
¹¹ Groene Hart Hospital, Department of Neurology, Gouda, the Netherlands.
¹² Upendo MS Clinic, Boxtel, the Netherlands.
¹³ Alrijne Hospital Leiden, Department of Neurology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
¹⁴ Zuyderland Medical Centre, Department of Neurology, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands.
¹⁵ Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Department of Neurology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
¹⁶ Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
¹⁷ Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Neurology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
¹⁸ University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Department of Neurology, Tilburg, the Netherlands.

PMID: 34216973
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117561

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) poses a major threat to sustainable employability. Identifying conditions and factors that promote work participation is of great importance. Our objective was to explore the contribution of personality traits in explaining occupational functioning in MS.

Methods: 241 participants with relapsing-remitting MS (78% female, median age: 42.0 years, median EDSS: 2.0) and 60 healthy controls (70% female, median age: 45.0 years) underwent neuropsychological and neurological examinations and completed questionnaires. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine relations between personality traits and self-reported occupational functioning, while accounting for known correlates.

Results: Personality traits were not associated with self-reported occupational functioning when correcting for known correlates. A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .005 and B = -0.04, p = .009) and depression (B = -0.22, p = .008 and B = -0.21, p = .01) were associated with no paid job (R² = 0.13) and considering to reduce work hours (R² = 0.12). A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .008, β = 0.46, p = .001 and β = -0.36, p = .001) was associated with absenteeism from work (R² = 0.15), more presenteeism (R² = 0.35) and lower work ability (R² = 0.25). A higher impact of fatigue (β = 0.46, p = .001) and anxiety (β = 0.25, p = .001) were associated with more work difficulties (R² = 0.54).

Conclusion: Personality traits did not explain additional variance in self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability. The impact of fatigue was the main and most consistent correlate of occupational functioning, often combined with depression or anxiety. Total explained variance of the models was limited, emphasizing the need to additionally examine other (contextual) factors when considering occupational challenges in MS.

Keywords: Fatigue; Mood; Multiple sclerosis; Occupational functioning; Personality.

MeSH terms

Adult
Depression / epidemiology
Depression / etiology
Fatigue / epidemiology
Fatigue / etiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis*
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting* / epidemiology
Personality
Self Report