Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) undergo declines in function, and aging with MS may compromise one's perception of confidence for managing this disease and its manifestations. A recent cross-sectional study that examined the associations between self-efficacy and physical and cognitive function in older adults with MS showed an association between self-efficacy for function and physical function outcomes in adults aged ≥60 years. 40 subjects completed the Multiple Sclerosis Self-efficacy (MSSE) Scale, undertook measures of physical and cognitive function, and wore an accelerometer for a 7-day period. The data were analyzed using partial Spearman correlations and linear regression. Researchers found:

• Correlation analyses indicated that function, but not control, subscale scores on the MSSE correlated with all measures of physical, but not cognitive function.
• Linear regression analyses indicated that the function MSSE subscale was the only variable that consistently explained variance in physical function outcomes.