Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2026
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Scott D. Ryan
Second Advisor
Dr. Anne Elizabeth Nordberg
Third Advisor
Dr. Weiwen Zeng
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Michael Bennett
Abstract
This three-article study examined the quality of life and everyday lived experience of older adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The first article is a scoping review of 14 peer-reviewed studies published between 2012 and 2025, conducted in accordance with Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework and the PRISMA checklist. The second article is a cross-sectional study using the Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) Phase II data set of 60 older adults living with MS. Multiple linear regression and moderation analysis was conducted to examine the association between physical symptom burden and quality of life, and whether participation in MS support groups moderated that relationship. The third article drew on qualitative data from the same ACCESS Phase II data set to provide an understanding of how 60 older adults with MS experienced challenges in their everyday activities, how they responded to those challenges, and what those experiences meant to them. The results from this overall body of research indicate the need for a reorientation of MS care toward older adults that addresses a holistic well-being of the population.
Disciplines
Diseases | Nursing | Public Health | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Handique, Swasati, "Aging With a Chronic Illness: Symptom Burden, Everyday Challenges, and Quality of Life Among Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis" (2026). Social Work Dissertations. 5.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_dissertations2/5
Included in
Diseases Commons, Nursing Commons, Public Health Commons, Social Work Commons