Longitudinal Changes in Quality of Life and Related Psychosocial Variables in Australians with Multiple Sclerosis
Open accessAbstract
This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 1287 Australians with MS were administered self-report questionnaires at baseline and 24 months later to examine the impact of disease severity and duration, perceived stress, self-efficacy, depression, and social support on QOL and self-care. Over the 2-year survey period, MS remained stable for 70% of respondents. Disease severity correlated with social support at baseline but not at 24 months, when the only significant correlation with disease severity was that of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 instrument (WHOQOL-100) domain of Level of Independence. Although QOL improved across the WHOQOL-100 domains Physical, Psychological, Level of Independence, Social Relationships, and Environment, decreases were found in the WHOQOL-100 facet overall QOL and well-being as well as self-efficacy over the same time period. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the utility of four control measures. MS disease severity and MS disease duration were entered at Step 1, explaining 16.1% of the variance in QOL. After entry of perceived stress, self-efficacy, social support, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) at Step 2, the total variance explained by the model as a whole was 55.8% (F6,1028 = 216.495, P < .001). Thus, even in the presence of stable disease and improvement in some WHOQOL-100 domains, overall QOL and self-efficacy had decreased at 2 years after the collection of baseline data. Loss of self-efficacy, increased stress, and depression are key factors in reduced QOL in people with MS.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Both Wollin et al. and Salehpoor et al. reported a negative correlation between stress and QoL.
“Nevertheless, both Wollin et al. [28] and Salehpoor et al. [20] reported a negative correlation between stress and QoL.”
From Biopsychosocial Correlates of Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients (2022) · cites this paper as [28]
Depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, social support, and stress explained an additional 40% of variance in quality of life after disease severity and duration were controlled.
“In fact, Wollin et al (2013) found that depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, social support, and stress accounted for an additional 40% of the variance in predicting QOL when disease severity and duration were accounted for.36”
From Quality of life and psychological well-being in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS): importance of adopting a biopsychosocial model (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
Psychological and social factors contribute to quality of life in multiple sclerosis beyond disease variables.
“These factors have been shown to greatly contribute to QOL above and beyond disease variables.”
From Quality of life and psychological well-being in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS): importance of adopting a biopsychosocial model (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria
Polman, C. H., Reingold, S. C., Banwell, B., Clanet, M., Cohen, J. A., Filippi, M., Fujihara, K., Havrdova, E., Hutchinson, M., Kappos, L., et al. (2011) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.22366 · Cited by 9,802 · see citing works
Sheikh (1986) · doi:10.1300/j018v05n01_09 · Cited by 7,236 · see citing works
Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2005 revisions to the “McDonald Criteria”
Polman, C. H., Reingold, S. C., Edan, G., Filippi, M., Hartung, H., Kappos, L., Lublin, F. D., Metz, L. M., McFarland, H. F., O'Connor, P. W., et al. (2005) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.20703 · Cited by 5,017 · see citing works
Hibbard, J. H., Stockard, J., Mahoney, E. R., & Tusler, M. (2004) · Health Services Research · doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2004.00269.x · Cited by 2,748 · see citing works
Do increases in patient activation result in improved self-management behaviors?
Hibbard, J. H., Mahoney, E. R., Stock, R., & Tusler, M. (2007) · Health Services Research · doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00669.x · Cited by 906 · see citing works
Depression and multiple sclerosis
Sadovnick, A. D., Remick, R. A., Allen, J. B., Swartz, E. S., Yee, I. M. L., Eisen, K., Farquhar, R., Hashimoto, S. A., Hooge, J. P., Kastrukoff, L. F., et al. (1996) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.46.3.628 · Cited by 536 · see citing works
Mohr, D. C., Boudewyn, A. C., Goodkin, D. E., Bostrom, A., & Epstein, L. (2001) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.69.6.942 · Cited by 334 · see citing works
Fatigue, mood and quality of life improve in MS patients after progressive resistance training
Dalgas, U., Stenager, E., Jakobsen, J., Petersen, T., Hansen, H. J., Knudsen, C., Overgaard, K., & Ingemann-Hansen, T. (2010) · Multiple Sclerosis · doi:10.1177/1352458509360040 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales
Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (2015) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t39835-000 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
An Explanatory Model of Health Promotion and Quality of Life in Chronic Disabling Conditions
Stuifbergen, A. M., Seraphine, A. E., & Roberts, G. J. (2000) · Nursing Research · doi:10.1097/00006199-200005000-00002 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Tang, Y., Pang, S., Chan, M. F., Yeung, G. S. P., & Yeung, M. W. (2008) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04526.x · Cited by 202 · see citing works
An empirical test of the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model
Doran, D. I., Sidani, S., Keatings, M., & Doidge, D. (2002) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02143.x · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Treatment of depression for patients with multiple sclerosis in neurology clinics
Mohr, D. C., Hart, S. L., Fonareva, I., & Tasch, E. S. (2006) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1191/135248506ms1265oa · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Rigby, S., Domenech, C., Thornton, E. W., Tedman, S., & Young, C. A. (2003) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1191/1352458503ms870oa · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Screening for depression among patients with multiple sclerosis: two questions may be enough
Mohr, D. C., Hart, S., Julian, L. J., & Tasch, E. S. (2007) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1177/1352458506070926 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Life issues in multiple sclerosis
Simmons, R. D. (2010) · Nature Reviews Neurology · doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2010.143 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Self-citationStress, Coping and Adaptation to New Parenthood
Terry, D. J. (1991) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/026540759184005 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Psychological Predictors of Depression in Multiple Sclerosis
Shnek, Z. M., Foley, F. W., LaRocca, N. G., Smith, C. R., & Halper, J. (1995) · Neurorehabilitation and neural repair · doi:10.1177/154596839500900103 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Kern, S., Schrempf, W., Schneider, H., Schultheiß, T., Reichmann, H., & Ziemssen, T. (2009) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1177/1352458509103300 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Self-Efficacy as a Predictor of Adjustment to Multiple Sclerosis
WASSEM, R. A. (1992) · Journal of Neuroscience Nursing · doi:10.1097/01376517-199208000-00010 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Cosio, D., Jin, L., Siddique, J., & Mohr, D. C. (2010) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9236-y · Cited by 47 · see citing works
A Comparative Study of Self-Efficacy in Men and Women with Multiple Sclerosis
Fraser, C., & Polito, S. (2007) · Journal of Neuroscience Nursing · doi:10.1097/01376517-200704000-00006 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Braden, C. J. (1990) · Research and theory for nursing practice · doi:10.1891/0889-7182.4.1.23 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Women Coping Successfully With Multiple Sclerosis and the Precursors of Change
Pinson, D. K., Ottens, A. J., & Fisher, T. A. (2008) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732308329465 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
WINEMAN, N. M., Schwetz, K. M., Goodkin, D. E., & Rudick, R. A. (1996) · Applied Nursing Research · doi:10.1016/s0897-1897(96)80413-7 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Natural History of Multiple Sclerosis: Have Available Therapies Impacted Long-Term Prognosis?
Trojano, M., Paolicelli, D., Tortorella, C., Iaffaldano, P., Lucchese, G., Renzo, V. D., & D’Onghia, M. (2011) · Neurologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2010.12.008 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Natural History of Multiple Sclerosis: Early Prognostic Factors
Mowry, E. M. (2011) · Neurologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2011.01.001 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Wollin, J. A., Fulcher, G., McDonald, E. A., Spencer, N., Mortlock, M. Y., Bourne, M., & Simmons, R. D. (2010) · International Journal of MS Care · doi:10.7224/1537-2073-12.3.133 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationHealth-Related Quality of Life Among Young Adults with Multiple Sclerosis
Buchanan, R. J., Huang, C., & Kaufman, M. (2010) · International Journal of MS Care · doi:10.7224/1537-2073-12.4.190 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
[Social and economic impact of multiple sclerosis].
Bénéton, C., & Rumbach, L. (1999) · PubMed · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Economic Impact of Multiple Sclerosis in 2010: Australian MS Longitudinal Study
Palmer, A. J., & Covance Pty Ltd (2011) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Poodle skirts, lava lamps and hot pants…is chronic condition self‐management another fad?
Kralik, D. (2008) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04595.x · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Braden CJ. Learned self-help response to chronic illness. Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1990;4:23-41.
- Sadovnick AD, Remick RA, Allen J, et al. Depression and multiple scle- rosis. Neurology. 1996;46:628-632.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Strober, L. B. (2018) · Disability and health journal · doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.05.003 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Henry, A., Tourbah, A., Camus, G., Deschamps, R., Mailhan, L., Castex, C., Gout, O., & Montreuil, M. (2019) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.09.039 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Carta, M. G., Moro, M. F., Lorefice, L., Picardi, A., Trincas, G., Fenu, G., Cocco, E. E., Floris, F., Bessonov, D., Akiskal, H. S., et al. (2014) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.05.024 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Hughes, A. J., Beier, M. L., Hartoonian, N., Turner, A. P., Amtmann, D., & Ehde, D. M. (2015) · Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2015.01.008 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
The impact of multiple sclerosis severity on health state utility values: Evidence from Australia
Ahmad, H., Taylor, B. V., van der Mei, I. A. F., Colman, S., O’Leary, B., Breslin, M. C., & Palmer, A. J. (2016) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1177/1352458516672014 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Kołtuniuk, A., Kazimierska-Zając, M., Cisek, K., & Chojdak-Łukasiewicz, J. (2021) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s310664 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Lee, B. (2021) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103421 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Ahmad, H., Campbell, J. A., van der Mei, I. A. F., Taylor, B. V., Zhao, T., & Palmer, A. J. (2020) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2020.102247 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Simpson, R., Simpson, S., Wood, K., Mercer, S. W., & Mair, F. S. (2019) · Chronic Illness · doi:10.1177/1742395318769354 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Biopsychosocial Correlates of Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Batista, A. R., Silva, S., Lencastre, L., & Guerra, M. P. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192114431 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Ahmad, H., van der Mei, I. A. F., Taylor, B. V., Campbell, J. A., & Palmer, A. J. (2020) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2020.102358 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Kassie, S. A., Alia, J., & Hyland, L. (2021) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049041 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Stuifbergen, A. M., Blozis, S. A., Becker, H., Harrison, T. C., & Kullberg, V. (2016) · Disability and health journal · doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.01.006 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Pateman, K., Cockburn, N., Campbell, J., & Ford, P. J. (2016) · Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology · doi:10.1111/cdoe.12263 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Young, C. A., Mills, R., Langdon, D., Sharrack, B., Majeed, T., Kalra, S., Footitt, D., Rog, D., Harrower, T., Nicholas, R., et al. (2022) · Journal of the Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.jns.2022.120188 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Serrano, V. B., Pasipanodya, E. C., Montoya, J. L., Heaton, R. K., Jeste, D. V., & Moore, D. J. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · doi:10.1007/s10880-023-09962-4 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Maguire, R., McKeague, B., Kóka, N., Coffey, L., Maguire, P., & Desmond, D. M. (2021) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103293 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Simpson, R., Posa, S., Bruno, T. R., Simpson, S., Wasilewski, M. B., Robinson, L. R., Munce, S., Bayley, M. T., & Feinstein, A. (2022) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-022-11497-x · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Scandiffio, J., Langer, L. K., Senthilnathan, V., Feng, G., Sureshkumar, A., Bromberg, M., Babineau, J., Donkers, S. J., Knox, K. B., Bruno, T. R., et al. (2025) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-025-13315-6 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Ahmad, H., van der Mei, I. A. F., Taylor, B. V., Zhao, T., Xia, Q., & Palmer, A. J. (2021) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103138 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Reece, J. C., Neate, S. L., Davenport, R. A., Milanzi, E., Nag, N., Bevens, W., Yu, M., Jelinek, G. A., & Simpson, S. (2023) · Acta Neurologica Belgica · doi:10.1007/s13760-023-02390-z · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Gromisch, E. S., Neto, L. O., DelMastro, H. M., Dhari, Z., Pisa, M., & Turner, A. P. (2023) · Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2023.10.020 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Influence of religion and spirituality on the mental health of patients with multiple sclerosis
Khari, S., & Pazokian, M. (2023) · Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/19349637.2023.2174920 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Campese, S., Lyons, J. N., Learmonth, Y. C., Metse, A. P., Kermode, A. G., Marck, C. H., & Karahalios, A. (2024) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2024.105763
Barazani, T., Shahar, G., & Aloni, R. (2025) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.08.009
Stuifbergen, A. M., & Becker, H. (2026) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare14142130
Zhang, C., Scandiffio, J., Sureshkumar, A., Wasilewski, M. B., Donkers, S. J., Munce, S., & Simpson, R. (2026) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2026.2719953
- Authors
- Wollin, J. A., Spencer, N., McDonald, E., Fulcher, G., Bourne, M., & Simmons, R. D.
- Affiliations
- Griffith University (AU)
- ORCID
- McDonald, Elizabeth
- Venue
- International Journal of MS Care
- Published
- 2013-06-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 90-97
- ISSN
- 1537-2073 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3883011
- OpenAlex
- W2073687938
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of MS Care (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Multiple Sclerosis Australia
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, quality of life, psychosocial factors, disease severity, disease duration, perceived stress, self-efficacy, depression, social support, self-care, WHOQOL-100, longitudinal change, well-being
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
