Employment in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

The major objectives of this research were to examine unemployment in the MS population on a national level, and to identify factors which might influence an MS individual's employment status. Data used were from the National Multiple Sclerosis Survey conducted by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. Data analysis was restricted to a subset of the sample who had worked at some time in their lives. Of 949 persons 79.7% were currently unemployed. While 65.2% had worked at the time of first symptom, only 27.2% were working at the time of the interview, an average of 17 years later. Path analyses revealed the overwhelming importance of mobility for remaining employed, particularly for males. Additional differences found between male and female path models were interpreted in terms of social role theory.