Self-efficacy and walking performance across the lifespan among adults with multiple sclerosis

Elizbeth Morghen Sikes; Katie L Cederberg; Jessica F Baird; Brian M Sandroff; Robert W Motl

doi:10.2217/nmt-2019-0007

Self-efficacy and walking performance across the lifespan among adults with multiple sclerosis

Neurodegener Dis Manag. 2019 Oct;9(5):267-275. doi: 10.2217/nmt-2019-0007.

Authors

Elizbeth Morghen Sikes¹, Katie L Cederberg¹, Jessica F Baird^{1

2}, Brian M Sandroff^{1

2}, Robert W Motl^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
² University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

PMID: 31580224
DOI: 10.2217/nmt-2019-0007

Abstract

Aim: We examined associations between self-efficacy and walking mobility across the lifespan in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This study included 39 young, 44 middle-aged and 41 older adults with MS who completed the Six-Minute Walk (6MW), Timed 25-foot Walk (T25FW), MS Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) and MS Self-efficacy Scale. Results: Self-efficacy for function explained 45 and 48% of variance in MSWS-12 scores for young and older adults with MS, respectively; 13, 29 and 23% of variance in T25FW for young, middle-aged and older adults, respectively; and 28, 31 and 28% of variance in 6MW for young, middle-aged and older adults with MS, respectively. Conclusion: This study highlights self-efficacy as a target of in-walking mobility interventions across the lifespan in MS.

Keywords: aging; mobility; multiple sclerosis; self-efficacy; walking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aging
Disability Evaluation
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mobility Limitation
Multiple Sclerosis / psychology*
Multiple Sclerosis / therapy
Physical Endurance
Self Efficacy*
Self Report
Walk Test
Walking*