Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition affecting the brain and spinal cord. It's course causes a life filled with uncertainty, unpredictability, constant management of daily symptoms including debilitating fatigue, and progressing disability. Co-occurring mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression also take an effect in the condition's ongoing fluctuation of symptoms. MS can also be an invisible condition that causes outside individuals to doubt an individual's experience or cause microaggressions against the individual with MS. Despite the negative effects of the condition, individuals with MS are resilient and continue to push through. My goal is to explore the positive psychology constructs of resilience, grit, self-efficacy, and hope in individuals with MS.
How Grit Affects the Quality of Life in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
This empirical study was done as a Master's thesis, working collaboratively with the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Medicine's Center for MS and Related Disorders. Results were presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers' (CMSC) Annual Conference in May/June 2024.
Abstract (view on CMSC):
Background: MS has been known to negatively impact an individual’s quality of life (QoL). Previous research has demonstrated that resilience and self-efficacy have been identified as potential protective factors. However, the related psychological construct of grit has not been extensively studied in this population. Grit can be defined as passion and perseverance needed to achieve long-term goals. Additionally, there is a dearth of literature distinguishing whether individuals with MS identify maintaining good health as a long-term goal.
Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to seek a correlation between grit and QoL and to identify the interplay of grit, QoL, energy, and emotional wellbeing. The secondary objective is to determine if grit is an applicable construct for studies in individuals with MS, particularly as it relates to the long-term goal of maintaining good health.
Methods: 63 participants were recruited through two presentations at Penn Medicine’s Center for MS and Related Disorders Wellness Program, another presentation at a local wellness center, posted fliers in the MS clinic, and word of mouth from participants. Participants filled out a demographic form and were given a test battery of the Grit Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and a health maintenance questionnaire developed for this study.
Results: A statistically significant positive association, r= .286, p=.023, was found using the Pearson's product moment test between the Overall QoL and grit. A linear regression found energy, conditional on level Grit, positively associated with QoL at a statistically significant level, p=.000148. Using Kendall’s rank correlation, the data indicated a significant positive association between emotional wellbeing and grit, τ=.295, p=.001. Participants’ responses indicated an overwhelming agreement with the statement: “maintaining good health is an important goal”.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest a significant positive association between grit and QoL, as well as with energy and emotional wellbeing. Findings suggest that grit is an applicable construct for studies in individuals with MS as nearly all participants indicated that maintaining good health is a long-term goal. These positive results signify this as a valuable path for continued research.
Manuscript currently in progress for submission for publication
Abstract (view on CMSC):
Background: MS has been known to negatively impact an individual’s quality of life (QoL). Previous research has demonstrated that resilience and self-efficacy have been identified as potential protective factors. However, the related psychological construct of grit has not been extensively studied in this population. Grit can be defined as passion and perseverance needed to achieve long-term goals. Additionally, there is a dearth of literature distinguishing whether individuals with MS identify maintaining good health as a long-term goal.
Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to seek a correlation between grit and QoL and to identify the interplay of grit, QoL, energy, and emotional wellbeing. The secondary objective is to determine if grit is an applicable construct for studies in individuals with MS, particularly as it relates to the long-term goal of maintaining good health.
Methods: 63 participants were recruited through two presentations at Penn Medicine’s Center for MS and Related Disorders Wellness Program, another presentation at a local wellness center, posted fliers in the MS clinic, and word of mouth from participants. Participants filled out a demographic form and were given a test battery of the Grit Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and a health maintenance questionnaire developed for this study.
Results: A statistically significant positive association, r= .286, p=.023, was found using the Pearson's product moment test between the Overall QoL and grit. A linear regression found energy, conditional on level Grit, positively associated with QoL at a statistically significant level, p=.000148. Using Kendall’s rank correlation, the data indicated a significant positive association between emotional wellbeing and grit, τ=.295, p=.001. Participants’ responses indicated an overwhelming agreement with the statement: “maintaining good health is an important goal”.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest a significant positive association between grit and QoL, as well as with energy and emotional wellbeing. Findings suggest that grit is an applicable construct for studies in individuals with MS as nearly all participants indicated that maintaining good health is a long-term goal. These positive results signify this as a valuable path for continued research.
Manuscript currently in progress for submission for publication
More Than Just Tired: The Effects of Fatigue on Employment for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Initially presented at the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association's (ARCA) pre-conference symposium in April 2024, this poster explores the challenges individuals face with fatigue and employment. Due to the lack of consistency in describing fatigue, this poster prominently features how individuals with MS describe their fatigue which were taken from referenced qualitative studies. Additionally the poster covers 3 questions for clients counselors should ask, whether working in clinical or vocational rehabilitation settings that demonstrates understanding of MS fatigue and it's importance. The poster also covers some statistics, difficulties for work, interventions, and microaggression themes individuals face regarding fatigue.
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