Work 52 (2015) 749–756 DOI:10.3233/WOR-152202 IOS Press 749 Employment as a health promotion intervention for persons with multiple sclerosis Chung-Yi Chiu a,* , Fong Chan b , Seneca Edward Sharp c , Alo Dutta c , Ellie Hartman d and Jill Bezyak e a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA b University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA c Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA d University of Wisconsin, Stout, WI, USA e University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA Received 1 January 2015 Accepted 19 May 2015 Abstract. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between employment status (no employment, part-time employment, and full-time employment) and functional disability, health-related quality of life, and life satisfaction of people with MS. METHODS: 157 individuals with MS completed a survey packet, including employment status, self-report disability severity, and health-related scales. A series of multivariate analysis of variance was performed to determine the differences between employment groups in health-related outcomes. RESULTS: The unemployed group had the highest levels of incapacity and social impairments among the three groups. They also had the lowest physical health-related quality of life and life satisfaction. The part-time employed group had the lowest levels of depression and higher levels of physical activity participation among the three groups of individuals with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Employment is significantly related to health-related quality of life, and as a result, it should be considered an important public health intervention for people with MS. Keywords: Employment, poverty, functional disability, health-related quality of life, and multiple sclerosis 1. Introduction According to the World Health Organization [1], the greatest cause of ill-health, suffering, and mortality in the world is poverty. Poverty and income inequal- ity have dire consequences to the social, mental, and physical well-being of individuals with and without disabilities [2, 3]. It is well documented that unem- * Address for correspondence: Chung-Yi Chiu, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 127 Huff Hall, M/C 588, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Tel.: +217 244 6435; Fax: +217 333 2766; E-mail: chiucy@illinois.edu. ployed people are vulnerable to a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, use alcohol more frequently, and report lower levels of self-esteem than those who are employed [2]. Income inequality, sec- ondary to unemployment, also produces high levels of psychosocial stress, which in turn leads to deteriorat- ing health and high mortality among people living in poverty [2–4]. Conversely, higher income and educa- tion levels have considerable social benefits resulting in a healthier population and better functioning society [5–8]. For people with chronic illness and disability, lack of employment opportunities excludes them from full 1051-9815/15/$35.00 © 2015 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved