Self-efficacy and walking performance across the lifespan among adults with multiple sclerosis.

Aim: We examined associations between self-efficacy and walking mobility across the lifespan in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

This study included 39 young, 44 middle-aged and 41 older adults with MS who completed the Six-Minute Walk (6MW), Timed 25-foot Walk (T25FW), MS Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) and MS Self-efficacy Scale.

Results

Self-efficacy for function explained 45 and 48% of variance in MSWS-12 scores for young and older adults with MS, respectively; 13, 29 and 23% of variance in T25FW for young, middle-aged and older adults, respectively; and 28, 31 and 28% of variance in 6MW for young, middle-aged and older adults with MS, respectively.

Conclusion

This study highlights self-efficacy as a target of in-walking mobility interventions across the lifespan in MS.