Workplace barriers and job satisfaction among employed people with multiple sclerosis: An empirical rationale for early intervention

Abstract

This article presents findings pertinent to the relationship between on-the-job barriers and job satisfaction among employed people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Fifty-nine adults with MS (N = 59), who self-initiated a telephone call to an employment hotline for assistance in managing their MS on the job, participated in structured job accommodation interviews (Work Experience Survey – WES). Respondents reported few worksite accessibility problems, a moderate number of performance difficulties, few job mastery problems, and relatively high levels of job satisfaction. Restricted range in the job mastery variable precluded its contribution to the hypothesized regression equation predicting job satisfaction, but the total number of worksite accessibility and essential function barriers correlated significantly and negatively with job satisfaction (r = -0.33, $r^2$ = 0.11, p < 0.015). A rationale for early intervention to reduce workplace barriers is presented, grounded in these findings and career development theory.