Table 1 Independent variables and methods used for data collection, categorisation criteria and variable characteristics of the sample (n = 219)

Independent variables* and methods	Categorisation criteria	Characteristics of the sample (n)
Age†	<47 y	108
	⩾47 y	111
Sex	Female	149
	Male	70
Sense of coherence: SOC scale‡	Weak/moderate, <76	148
	Strong, ⩾76	58
Living with a partner§: interview	Yes	152
	No	69
Living with children§: interview	Yes	64
	No	155
Work status¶: interview	Working, full- or part-time	117
	Not working	84
Immunomodulatory treatment: medical records and interview	Ongoing treatment	182
	No treatment	37
Mood, depressive symptoms: BDI**	Symptoms, ⩾13	90
	No symptoms, <13	108
Disease severity: EDSS††	Normal, 0	1
	Mild, 1.0–3.5	129
	Moderate, 4.0–5.5	37
	Severe, 6.0–9.5	52
Disease course	Relapsing remitting	127
	Progressive‡‡	92
Time since diagnosis§§: medical records and interview	⩽10 y	101
	>10 y	118

*Independent variables: data were collected at baseline, except SOC, which was collected at 6 or 12 months.
†Age: categorised according to the mean age of the sample: mean 47 (SD 12 (range 20–75)).
‡SOC: the 13 item version SOC scale11 was used and categorised with reference to a sample from the Swedish general population, adjusting for gender15 (n = 206).
§A person was considered a partner if ⩾18 years of age and a child if <18 years of age.
¶Work status: applied for PwMS <65 years of age, the customary retirement age in Sweden (n = 201).
**Mood: categorised as depressive symptoms if at any time during the study (at baseline, 12 or 24 months) the BDI16 score was ⩾13,17 otherwise categorised as no depressive symptoms (n = 198).
††The EDSS18: categorised according to the categorisation applied in the Swedish MS Registry.19
‡‡Primary progressive or secondary progressive course.
§§Time since diagnosis: mean 14 (SD 10 (range 0–44)).
BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; PwMS, persons with multiple sclerosis; SOC, sense of coherence.