Evaluating Positive Person-Environment Variables and Overall Health as Parallel Mediators for the Relationship Between Core Self-Evaluations and Subjective Well-being in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Core self-evaluation (CSE) is a higher-order personality construct comprising traits like self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability. It reflects fundamental beliefs about one’s self-worth, abilities, sense of control, and overall capability. CSE is a well-documented positive person-environment (P-E) variable in rehabilitation counseling research, linked to subjective well-being (SWB) among college students with disabilities, individuals with spinal cord injuries, and those with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, mechanisms behind the CSE-SWB relationship are not well understood. This study hypothesized that positive P-E variables such as hope, resilience, coping ability, health, and social support mediate the CSE-SWB relationship. Using a sample of individuals with MS, parallel mediation analysis showed all positive P-E variables were significantly associated with both CSE and SWB at the zero-order correlation level. However, the effect of hope, resilience, and coping ability on SWB dissipated after accounting for CSE, while social support and overall health remained significantly related to SWB in the model. These findings suggest that while hope, resilience, and coping ability contribute to CSE, health and social support are significant mediators of the CSE-SWB relationship. This research informs the development of CSE interventions to improve the health, well-being, and employment outcomes of people with MS.

Keywords

core self-evaluations positive person-environment contextual factors parallel mediation analysis multiple sclerosis

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Psychological Association. (2014). Stress and exercise. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/exercise

American Psychological Association. (2020). Working out boosts brain health. https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress

Bass

A. D.

Van Wijmeersch

Mayer

Mäurer

Boster

Mandel

Mitchell

Sharrock

Singer

(2020). Effect of multiple sclerosis on daily activities, emotional well-being, and relationships: The global vs MS survey. International Journal of MS Care, 22(4), 158–164. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2018-087

Bijoux Leist

Leist

T. P

. (2022). Multiple sclerosis: Relationship between locus of control and quality of life in persons with low versus high disability. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10(1), 316–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2050373

Bogart

K. R.

(2015). Disability identity predicts lower anxiety and depression in multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 60(1), 105–109. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000029

Bogart

K. R.

Lund

E. M.

Rottenstein

(2018). Disability pride protects self-esteem through the rejection-identification model. Rehabilitation Psychology, 63(1), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000166

Carty

van der Ploeg

H. P.

Biddle

S. J. H.

Bull

Willumsen

Lee

Kamenov

Milton

(2021). The First Global Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Guidelines for People Living With Disability. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 18(1), 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0629

Carver

C. S.

(1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: Consider the brief cope. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_6

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Benefits of physical activity. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm#:~:text=Cardiovascular%20Disease&text=Getting%20at%20least%20150%20minutes,and%20improve%20your%20cholesterol%20levels

10.

Chang

C. H. (Daisy)

Ferris

D. L.

Johnson

R. E.

Rosen

C. C.

Tan

J. A.

(2012). Core self-evaluations: A review and evaluation of the literature. Journal of Management, 38(1), 81–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206311419661

11.

Chatterjee

Hadi

A. S.

(1986). Influential observations, high leverage points, and outliers in linear regression. Statistical Science, 1, 379–393. https://doi.org/10.1214/ss/1177013622

12.

Chatterjee

Hadi

A. S.

(2009). Sensitivity analysis in linear regression (Vol. 327). John Wiley & Sons.

13.

Chen

Yang

Luo

(2022). Core self-evaluation and subjective wellbeing: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 1036071.

14.

Cheng

B. Y.

Y. N.

(2023). To improve your work performance, get some exercise. https://hbr.org/2023/05/to-improve-your-work-performance-get-some-exercise

15.

Davis

A. J.

MacCarron

Cohen

(2021). Social reward and support effects on exercise experiences and performance: Evidence from parkrun. PLOS ONE, 16(9), Article e0256546. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256546

16.

Diener

Emmons

R. A.

Larsen

R. J.

Griffin

(1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1037/t01069-000

17.

Filippi

Preziosa

Langdon

Lassmann

Paul

Rovira

À.

Schoonheim

M. M.

Solari

Stankoff

Rocca

M. A.

(2020). Identifying Progression in Multiple Sclerosis: New Perspectives. Annals of neurology, 88(3), 438–452. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25808

18.

George

Mallery

(2003). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference. 11.0 update (4th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

19.

Grimani

Aboagye

Kwak

(2019). The effectiveness of workplace nutrition and physical activity interventions in improving productivity, work performance and workability: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 19, Article 1676. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8033-1

20.

Hayes

A. F.

(2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. The Guilford Press.

21.

HealthMeasures. (n.d.). PROMIS^® Short Form v1.0—Global Health. HealthMeasures. https://www.healthmeasures.net/index.php?option=com_instruments&view=measure&id=778&Itemid=992

22.

HealthMeasures.Net. (n.d.). PROMIS resources at HealthMeasures. https://www.healthmeasures.net/explore-measurement-systems/promis/intro-to-promis/list-of-adult-measures

23.

Iwanaga

Chan

Deiches

Lee

Chen

J. R.

Rumrill

Zapata

(2024). Constructs of the transactional model of stress and coping and positive human traits as predictors of perceived stress in people with multiple sclerosis: Implications for health professionals. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 55, 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2023-0027

24.

Iwanaga

Chan

Rumrill

Ditchman

(2023). Subjective well-being of adults with multiple sclerosis during COVID-19: Evaluating stress–appraisal–coping and person–environment factors. Rehabilitation Psychology, 68(4), 362–373. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000498

25.

Jiang

Abduljabbar

Zhang

Osier

(2022). The relationship between stress and disease onset and relapse in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 67, 104142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2022.104142

26.

Judge

T. A.

Erez

Bono

J. E.

Thoresen

C. J.

(2003). The Core Self-Evaluations Scale: Development of a measure. Personnel Psychology, 56(2), 303–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2003.tb00152.x

27.

Katzan

I. L.

Lapin

(2018). PROMIS©GH (patient-reported outcomes measurement information system global health) scale in stroke: A validation study. Stroke, 49(1), 147–154. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018766

28.

Kim

H. M.

(2023). Effects of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and disability acceptance on the social participation of people with physical disabilities: Focusing on COVID-19 pandemic. Brain and Behavior, 13(1), Article e2824. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2824

29.

Lee

Pfaller

Iwanaga

Chen

J. R.

Chan

(2020). Core self-evaluations as a mediator of the relationship between stress and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 52(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-191066

30.

Lee

Tansey

T. N.

Chan

Bishop

Hoyt

W. T.

Hancock

L. M.

(2022). Exploration of the effects of protective person–environment factors between functional impairments and stress in individuals with multiple sclerosis: Mediation and moderation analyses. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 65(2), 95–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552211025534

31.

Lejzerowicz

Tomczyk

(2018). Acquired disability: Self-esteem and identity integration. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 49(2), 262–271.

32.

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Stress management. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469#:~:text=Take%20a%20walk%20with%20the,exercise%20program%20an%20ongoing%20priority

33.

Meltzer

(2003). Development of a common instrument for mental health. In Novisky

Gudex

(Eds.), EUROHIS: Developing common instruments for health surveys. IOS Press.

34.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.a). MS prevalence. National MS Society. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-the-society/who-we-are/research-we-fund/ms-prevalence

35.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.b). MS symptoms. National MS Society. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/understanding-ms/what-is-ms/ms-symptoms

36.

Pavot

Diener

(1993). Review of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5(2), 164–172. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164

37.

Smedema

S. M.

(2014). Core self-evaluations and well-being in persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59, 407–414. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000013

38.

Smedema

S. M.

Cardoso

Chan

Dutta

Muller

Keegan

Ebener

Yaghmaian

R. A.

(2015). The relationship of core self-evaluations and life satisfaction in college students with disabilities: Evaluation of a mediator model. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 28, 341–358. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1083840.pdf

39.

Smedema

S. M.

Catalano

Ebener

(2010). The relationship of coping responses to self-worth and subjective well-being: A structural equation model. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355209358272

40.

Smedema

S. M.

Chan

Y.-C.

Phillips

B. N.

(2014). Core self-evaluations and Snyder’s hope theory in persons with spinal cord injuries. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59, 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000015

41.

Smedema

S. M.

Kesselmayer

R. F.

Peterson

(2018). Evaluation of a multiple mediator model of the relationship between core self-evaluations and job satisfaction in employed individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 32(2), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1891/2168-6653.32.2.139

42.

Smedema

S. M.

Lee

Bhattarai

(2022). An examination of the relationship of core self-evaluations and life satisfaction in college students with disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 65(2), 129–139. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355221993569

43.

Smedema

S. M.

Pfaller

J. S.

Yaghmaian

R. A.

Weaver

Cardoso

Chan

(2015). Core self-evaluations as a mediator between functional disability and life satisfaction in college students with disabilities. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 29, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1891/2168-6653.29.1.96

44.

Smith

B. W.

Dalen

Wiggins

Tooley

Christopher

Bernard

(2008). The Brief Resilience Scale: Assessing the ability to bounce back. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 15(3), 194–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705500802222972

45.

Snyder

C. R.

Irving

L. M.

Anderson

J. R.

(1991). Hope and health. In Snyder

C. R.

Forsyth

D. R.

(Eds.), Handbook of social and clinical psychology: The health perspective (pp. 285–305). Pergamon Press.

46.

Tansey

T. N.

Kaya

Moser

Eagle

Dutta

Chan

(2016). Psychometric validation of the Brief Resilience Scale in a sample of vocational rehabilitation consumers. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 59(2), 108–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355215573539

47.

Taylor

V. A.

Grant

Daneault

Scavone

Breton

Roffe-Vidal

Courtemanche

Lavarenne

A. S.

Beauregard

(2011). Impact of mindfulness on the neural responses to emotional pictures in experienced and beginner meditators. NeuroImage, 57(4), 1524–1533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.06.001

48.

Umucu

Lee

Berwick

O’Neill

L. E.

Chan

Chen

(2023). Reducing the influence of perceived stress on subjective well-being of student veterans with and without disabilities: The protective role of positive traits and social support. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 67(1), 46–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221077942

49.

Walton

King

Rechtman

Kaye

Leray

Marrie

R. A.

Robertson

La Rocca

Uitdehaag

van der Mei

Wallin

Helme

Angood Napier

Rijke

Baneke

(2020). Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition. Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 26(14), 1816–1821. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520970841

50.

J. R.

Chen

Iwanaga

Bezyak

Rumrill

Lee

Chan

(2023). Psychometric validation of the PROMIS Social Support Scale in a sample of individuals with chronic health conditions and disabilities: A factor analytic study. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 68, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552231199243