Chronical illness and maternity: life conditions,quality of life and coping in women with multiple sclerosis

Aim Research on life circumstances, quality of life (QOL) and coping behavior in mothers with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method Anonymous standardised questionnaire sent to 7050 members of a section of the German MS Association (response rate 44.8%). Comparison of 482 mothers with MS (children aged < 18 years) with 607 childless women with MS. Results No statistically significant differences concerning age, MS course, complaints or number of exacerbations. Mothers with MS more frequently had a relationship, a higher monthly net income, were less employed, EDSS-score was lower and disease duration shorter. In QOL mothers with MS showed better social aspects even after multivariate adjustment for sociodemographic and disease-related variables. Influencing parameters on the social area of QOL were employment status, age, monthly household net income and disability. In their coping behavior mothers tended more to “religiosity/search for sense in life”. Conclusion There were several differences in sociodemographic data, QOL and coping behavior factors between mothers and childless women with MS. However, if motherhood itself has an influence on QOL and coping can not be derived from our data but there are some hints that motherhood seems to be no potential problem for living with the disease. Further research upon this topic is needed.