title: Symptoms and physical activity among adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This study examined overall and specific symptoms as cross-sectional correlates of physical activity in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We expected that overall symptoms would be inversely associated with physical activity, and that the association would be accounted for by fatigue, depression, and pain. The sample included 269 individuals with a definite diagnosis of RRMS who completed a battery of questionnaires and then wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Data were analyzed using covariance modeling in Mplus. The primary model (chi square = 13.89, df = 10, p = 0.18, SRMR = 0.03, comparative fit index = 0.99) demonstrated that the path between overall symptoms and physical activity was indirect by way of fatigue (indirect path coefficient = -0.15) and depression (indirect path coefficient = -0.10). Such findings provide support for an indirect association between overall symptoms and physical activity by way of fatigue and depression in RRMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Yoojin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weikert
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dlugonski
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires