Archie de Ceuninck van Capelle
University of Humanistic Studies,
Kromme Nieuwegracht 29, 3512 HD Utrecht
England
Research Article
Multiple Sclerosis and Work: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Perspective of Persons with Early Stage MS
Author(s): Archie de Ceuninck van Capelle, Leo H Visser and Frans VosmanArchie de Ceuninck van Capelle, Leo H Visser and Frans Vosman
Objective:This study explores the lived experience in their working lives of people with early stage multiple sclerosis (MS).
Method: Ten people at various stages in their careers (applying, employed, recently retired) who had been diagnosed with early stage MS were interviewed in open, in depth interviews. Transcriptions were analysed following a phenomenological approach.
Results: Six themes were found: the tiresome process of adjustment, inventing ways to do your work, feeling hurt about how others see your illness avoiding applying for jobs, embracing retirement, and mourning over lost work. Instead of relating these findings to mainstream theories that presuppose rather than investigate subjectivity (coping, selfmanagement, skills), we generalize these findings by relating them to the psychodynamic model of wo.. View More»