Life course of children with parental multiple sclerosis

Little is known about the consequences for children of a parent with multiple sclerosis (MS). The potential influence on the children can arise from the variety of symptoms of the chronic illness, including fatigue and disability, which can restrict daily life of the person with MS and might result in less energy for activities and loss of job with social implications for the family. This book is based on Mobergs PhD dissertation: We conducted three studies on the influence of parental MS on children into adult life. In two of the studies we linked the nationwide population-based Danish MS Registry with other nationwide registries. We examined school grades, education, employment, income and disability pension for 4,177 children with parental MS compared with 33,416 reference children. We also conducted an interview study about young adults' experiences of growing up with a parent with MS. Moberg interviewed 14 persons between 18 and 25 years with parental MS. This age group was chosen because they were young enough to remember their childhood vividly and mature enough to reflect about it. The three studies show that parental MS affects the children far into their adult life.