title: Care Partners and Multiple Sclerosis: Differential Effect on Men and Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caring for someone with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a stressful experience that requires clinical attention. We investigated the impact of caregiver stress on the emotional well-being and physical health of the MS care partner using the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Care partners of NARCOMS participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire that captured demographic characteristics, health status, caregiver burden as measured by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview, and impact of caregiving on employment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1446 care partners who agreed to participate, 1333 had complete data. Most were men (n = 825, 61.9%), with a mean (SD) age of 51.1 (11.2) years. The mean (SD) Zarit total score was 24.6 (15.1), placing the overall group in the mild caregiver burden range. Compared with male care partners, female care partners reported higher levels of burden and stress and more medication use for stress/anxiety and mood disorders. Male care partners were more likely to report physical concerns. Care partners of people with primary progressive MS reported greater perceived burden than did partners of people with secondary progressive MS and relapsing-remitting MS. More than 40% of care partners (559 of 1288) had missed work during the past year owing to caregiving responsibilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Care partners of people with MS have substantial physical and psychological health concerns and experience an adverse impact on employment. Future research should evaluate how to mitigate the adverse effects of caregiving and evaluate positive aspects of the role.
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Mary Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Quig
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tyry
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Ruth Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marrie
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cutter
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shearin
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: Kamau
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC, USA (TM, ES, KJ); Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (MEQ); Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA (MEQ); Dignity Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA (TT); Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (RAM); Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA (GC); and Neurology Center of Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, USA (JS).
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simsarian