Symptoms and physical activity behavior in individuals with multiple sclerosis

We examined overall and specific symptoms as correlates of physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Participants ( N  = 133) completed questionnaires that measured overall symptoms; and specific symptoms of depression, pain, and fatigue; difficulty walking; and physical activity. Initial analyses indicated that higher levels of overall symptoms ( r  = −.50), fatigue ( r  = −.26), and difficulty walking ( r  = −.46) were associated with lower levels of physical activity. Path analysis demonstrated that higher levels of overall symptoms were directly and indirectly associated with lower levels of physical activity; the indirect pathway involved difficulty walking ( γγββ  = −.17). Such findings indicate that walking difficulty may partially explain the negative relationship between overall symptoms and physical activity behavior in MS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:466–475, 2008