Multiple sclerosis and employment: Associations of psychological factors and work instability

Wicks, Charlotte Rose; Ward, Karl; Stroud, Amanda; Tennant, Alan; Ford, Helen

doi:10.2340/16501977-2142

Cited by 17 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In a study of the association between psychological factors and the work instability of 208 MS patients, intrapersonal changes in psychological states such as optimistic and pessimistic outlooks were observed in 8-month duration. 58 One-third of the participants indicated a change from optimistic to pessimistic outlooks, and only a few of them (2.5%) indicated a change from pessimistic to optimistic. 58 Hence, positive coping is not synonymous with the absence of distress, and unbalanced attention to positive coping can build toward unrealistic expectations of consistent strength and perpetual positive or successful coping.…”

Section: Coping Styles and Strategies In Managing Msmentioning

confidence: 93%

Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context

Vijayasingham¹,

Mairami²

2018

DNND

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Patients with multiple sclerosis tend to report higher levels of work difficulties and negative outcomes, such as voluntary and involuntary work termination and reduced work participation. In this article, we discuss the complex interactions of disease, personal coping strategies, and social and structural factors that contribute to their work experiences and outcomes. An overview of the coping strategies and actions that leverage personal and context-level factors and dynamics is also provided to support the overall goal of continued work in patients with MS.

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Section: Coping Styles and Strategies In Managing Msmentioning

confidence: 93%

Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context

Vijayasingham¹,

Mairami²

2018

DNND

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“…Tailored support is vital to job retention for vulnerable employees (Munir et al, 2009;Wicks et al, 2016) and interventions which account for the personal experience of chronic illness are highly valued (Varekamp, Krol & van Dijk, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tortoise or hare? Supporting the chronotope preference of employees with fluctuating chronic illness symptoms

Thompson

Ford

Stroud

et al. 2019

Psychology & Health

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AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by a Multiple Sclerosis Society grant (974/12). We would like to thank Sookhoe Eng (Senior Research Nurse) for moderating the focus groups and coaching Amanda Stroud in her role as focus group facilitator. This research would not have been possible without the generosity of the people with MS who shared their experiences and we extend to them our sincere gratitude. Chronotope preference ABSTRACT ObjectiveOur aim is to understand how to facilitate the job retention of employees with chronic illness. We focus on multiple sclerosis (MS) as a criterion chronic illness. DesignAn opportunity sample of 20 individuals of working age (13 female; 7 male) were recruited who had been in paid employment for over 28 months with a concurrent diagnosis of MS. Participants took part in one of three focus groups with a topic guide comprising eight keywords: work, coping, performance, support, future, expectations, and sharing symptoms. Data were analysed using dialogical analysis. Main outcome measuresAs a qualitative study, no outcome measure was used. However, the specific focus of interest was to search for differential patterns of 'timespace'chronotope -that people with chronic illness utilize to manage their condition in the workplace. ResultsParticipants oriented to two distinct chronotope types: unsustainable epic (characterized by condensed time) and temporary idyll (characterized by condensed space). Perceived managerial discretion was identified as possibly influencing participants' chronotope preference. ConclusionIdentifying chronotope preference has practical implications for health psychologists and related professionals who provide and advise on support to facilitate people with chronic illness to thrive in the workplace.

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“…Research on the determinants of job retention in MS has focused on the impact of physical symptoms (Flensner, Landtblom, Söderhamn, & Ek, 2013;Smith & Arnett, 2005) and on the complex comorbidities of physical and psychosocial factors (Garfield & Lincoln, 2012). For example, Wicks, Ward, Stroud, Tennant, and Ford (2016) found self-efficacy had a mediating effect on the relationship between the physical symptoms of MS and job loss. This indicates a promising point for psychological intervention, which would be complemented by socially-focused insights, given self-efficacy may be directly influenced by colleagues (Munir et al, 2009).…”

Section: Dialogism Parody and Reported Speechmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing the (In)visibility of Chronic Illness at Work: Dialogism, Parody, and Reported Speech

et al. 2019

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Interactionally, the workplace may be dilemmatic for a person with 'invisible' chronic illness. Risks of stigmatization exist if they disclose their condition to colleagues. Meanwhile, not disclosing threatens wellbeing and entitlements. Using Bakhtin's (1984) dialogism as a theoretical framework, we explored these social aspects of illness: inductively analyzing narratives from 20 participants with MS. Capitalizing on concepts from Dialogical and Conversation Analysis, links between (in)visibility, knowledge, and belief were examined with respect to symptoms and co-worker judgment. Perceived medical legitimacy creates a core social dilemma. At the intersection of genre and action, participants systematically used parody to subvert the traditional workplace hierarchy. 'Oh-prefaced' direct reported speech (OPDRS) was deployed to exaggerate workplace interactions, undermining managers/colleagues who misattributed (in)visible symptoms. Parodic OPDRS index emotive interactional dilemmas. As subversions of organizational power, OPDRS denote those very areas where employees feel disempowered. Sensitivity to OPDRS can provide diagnostic support and complement evaluation frameworks.

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Multiple sclerosis and employment: Associations of psychological factors and work instability

Cited by 17 publications

References 20 publications

Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context

Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context

Tortoise or hare? Supporting the chronotope preference of employees with fluctuating chronic illness symptoms

Managing the (In)visibility of Chronic Illness at Work: Dialogism, Parody, and Reported Speech

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