Life indicators, illness characteristics, and psychosocial concomitants of self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity: A two-year longitudinal study

Abstract

Life indicators, illness characteristics, and psychosocial concomitants were measured in a large sample of persons self-reporting multiple chemical sensitivity. Cross-sectional data are presented for 305 persons who responded to written surveys. Examined are employment status, income, relationship status, illness characteristics such as length, severity, and age respondents became sensitive, money spent on physicians and on home alterations, situations reported to cause the initial sensitization, and the psychosocial measures of social support and psychosocial adjustment to illness. In addition, relevant life indicators are re-examined two years later and presented for 209 persons who continued to participate. This paper examines life indicators for persons of four levels of severity of condition and three courses of condition over time.