Does social leisure contribute to physical health in MS related fatigue?

Abstract

Fatigue has a negative impact on both the performance of daily activities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) especially in women with multiple sclerosis related fatigue (MSF). Previous research has suggested that leisure participation may enhance physical and mental health in this population, but limited research has examined leisure participation and satisfaction in relation to MSF and HRQoL. This study examined these relationships in women with MSF. Sixty participants completed a demographic questionnaire and seven known questionnaires: the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (Hartrick, Koran, & Shapiro, 2003), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) (Landerman, George, Campbell, & Blazer, 1989), the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) (Fisk, et al., 1994), the Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36), the Leisure Satisfaction Survey (LSS) (Beard & Ragheb, 1980), and the Classification of Leisure Participation Scale (CLP) (Khemthong, Packer, & Passmore, 2007). Pearson correlations indicated support for previously reported correlations between health, fatigue, pain, depression and other nonleisure variables. Positive relationships between physical leisure and physical health; and leisure satisfaction and mental health were also found. Most importantly, stepwise regression analysis found that social leisure contributed to the prediction of physical health, indicating that leisure participation in social activities may enhance physical health in women with MSF