Self-Management, Perceived Control, and Subjective Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Self-management has been shown to increase perceived control over both illness and nonillness aspects of life among people with chronic conditions but has not received significant research attention among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on relationships proposed in the illness intrusiveness and disability centrality models, this study explored the relationships between subjective and objective measures of MS impact, self-management, perceived control, and subjective quality of life (SQOL). A sample of 157 adults with MS participated in this research. The results suggest that self-management is strongly associated with perceived control and that both perceived control and self-management mediate the relationship between MS impact and SQOL. The rehabilitation counseling implications of these findings are discussed.

A Pilot Test of the HOPE Intervention to Explore Employment and Mental Health Among African American Gay Men Living With HIV/AIDS: Results From a CBPR Study

“…We learned that selfmanagement-based interventions have been utilized to increase knowledge of the chronic health condition; decrease anxiety and depression; and increase social skills, medical treatment management, quality of life, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. This aligns with the research on employment for PLWHA (Barlow et al, 2002;Bishop, Frain, & Tschopp, 2008;Dilorio, Faherty, & Manteuffel, 1992;Lorig, 1993;Lorig & Holman, 2003). In a review of 145 peer-reviewed, published self-management interventions for persons with chronic conditions, common components of effective self-management interventions included: (1) providing further information about the chronic health condition, (2) increasing medication management skills, (3) building symptom management skills, (4) exploring psychological consequences and learning how to better cope, (5) learning to identify and manage lifestyle adaptations, (6) developing social support, and (7) learning effective communication skills (Barlow et al, 2002).…”

The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale

“…Effective self-management has been found to be an important avenue for enhancing one's perceived control over the illness and increasing quality of life in the presence of a chronic condition. 5,6 Barlow et al 7(p178) define self-management as "the individual's ability to manage the symptoms, treatment, physical and psychosocial consequences and lifestyle changes inherent in living with a chronic condition. Efficacious self-management encompasses ability to monitor one's condition and to effect the cognitive, behavioral and emotional responses necessary to maintain a satisfactory quality of life."…”

The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale: Revision and psychometric analysis.

“…Although researchers have previously noted that, compared with other chronic health conditions, self-management has received relatively little research attention in the MS literature (Bishop et al, 2008;Devins & Shnek, 2000;Edgley, Sullivan, & Deboux, 1991), a welcome increase in such research has become apparent over the past several years. Specifically, researchers have explored the effects of comprehensive MS self-management and health and Wellness promotion programs and interventions (Bombardier et al,, 2008;Bombardier, Wadhwani, & LaRotonda, 2005;Phillips & Stuifbergen, 2006;Stuifbergen, Becker, Blozis, Timmerman, & KuUberg, 2003;Stuifbergen, Becker, Rogers, Timmerman, & Kullberg, 1999) and the relationship between self-management and various physical and psycbosocial outcomes (e.g.. Barlow, Turner, Edwards, & Gilchrist, 2009;Bishop, Frain, Rumrill, & Rymond, 2009;Embrey, 2005;Shevil & Finlayson, 2009), As MS self-management interventions and research have increased, the need for valid and reliable outcome measures has become increasingly evident.…”