Illness Onset As Status Passage for People with Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) (Report‪)‬

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) AS LIFE TRANSITION In this article I explore the passage that a person with multiple sclerosis (MS) makes as they transition from one set of socially identified circumstances to another (Mayrhofer & Iellatchitch, 2005)--that is, when they transition from the role of being a person-without-MS to being a person-with-MS. I present this transition as a status passage (Glaser & Strauss, 1971) involving different interpretations, meanings and phenomena. Glaser and Strauss' (1971) construct of the status passage is used to model the significance of this life change for people with an onset of MS. MS is a disease that can substantially interfere with daily routines, activities, family, social and working lives, as well as the emotional well-being and quality of life of those impacted (Janssens, van Doorn, de Boer, van der Meche, Passchier & Hintzen, 2003). I claim that the onset of MS is a status passage worthy of careful consideration for people with MS, those around them and, especially, for the health professionals who provide them with much needed support.