Older and Happier? Associations Among Age,Affective Symptomatology,and Quality of Life in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

PURPOSE: Increased age is associated with improved subjective well-being in the general population, a paradox explained by enhanced emotional regulation with experience (Urry & Gross, 2010). There are conflicting findings regarding this association in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS; Jones & Amtmann, 2015). The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship of age to affective symptomatology and quality of life (QOL) in adults with MS. Research questions included the following: (1) Is increased age associated with decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety and increased physical and mental QOL in individuals with MS? (2) If so, does affective symptomatology mediate the effect of age on physical and mental QOL?

DESIGN AND METHOD: Thirty individuals with MS, ages 36–65, were recruited from the community to participate in this prospective cross-sectional study. Measures included a combined Mood/Evaluative score on the Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory, the State subscale of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Physical and Mental subscales of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Instrument. Associations between age, affective symptomatology, and QOL were examined using Pearson correlations followed by simple mediation analysis using an ordinary least squares regression-based approach. The independent variable was age, the outcome variable was QOL, and the proposed mediating factor was affective symptomatology.

RESULTS: Increased age was significantly associated with decreased depression, decreased anxiety, and increased physical and mental QOL. The effect of age on both physical and mental QOL was mediated by symptoms of both depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION: The relationship of age to QOL reflects what has been observed in the general population, such that older adults with MS reported increased QOL. Younger adults with MS reported increased affective symptomatology and decreased QOL. As age is associated with QOL via affective symptoms, addressing symptoms of depression and anxiety may improve physical and mental QOL even with younger age. Therefore, younger adults with MS may benefit from interventions that promote emotional regulation and coping in order to prevent or decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety as a means of increasing QOL. Identifying relationships between age and subjective well-being in persons with MS is important to guide the provision of resources to those who are at higher risk for decreased QOL.

References

Jones, S. M. W., & Amtmann, D. (2015). The relationship of age, function, and psychological distress in multiple sclerosis. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 20, 629–634. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2014.979209

Urry, H. L., & Gross, J. J. (2010). Emotion regulation in older age. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 352–357. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721410388395