TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of a Four-Week Online Resilience Training Program for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

AU - Bock, Lotte

AU - Rana, Madiha

AU - Westemeyer, Lara

AU - Rana, Majeed

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.

PY - 2024/3/9

Y1 - 2024/3/9

N2 - The diagnosis of a chronic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, has both psychological and physical effects. Living with the disease and its uncertain consequences requires a great deal of psychological resilience in order to employ more comprehensive coping strategies in stressful situations. This study investigated the effect of a four-week online self-directed resilience training program on the perception of psychological resilience among multiple sclerosis patients. A total of 94 MS patients were recruited for a randomised controlled trial. The experimental group underwent a 28-day online self-directed training program consisting of daily exercises aimed at strengthening a resilient mindset. Psychological resilience was measured through self-assessment immediately before, immediately after, and three months after the training. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant improvement in the perception of four factors related to stress: perceived worries, tension, joy, and demands. Two resilience coping strategies were measured, of which one, a resilient orientation, improved significantly in the short and long term. The study suggests that online self-directed resilience training might provide an easily accessible, low-cost option for patients with MS to improve their psychological resilience. This is a pilot study to assess the general applicability to people with MS. Future studies should examine the transferability of results in relation to disease stage and co-morbidities.

AB - The diagnosis of a chronic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, has both psychological and physical effects. Living with the disease and its uncertain consequences requires a great deal of psychological resilience in order to employ more comprehensive coping strategies in stressful situations. This study investigated the effect of a four-week online self-directed resilience training program on the perception of psychological resilience among multiple sclerosis patients. A total of 94 MS patients were recruited for a randomised controlled trial. The experimental group underwent a 28-day online self-directed training program consisting of daily exercises aimed at strengthening a resilient mindset. Psychological resilience was measured through self-assessment immediately before, immediately after, and three months after the training. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant improvement in the perception of four factors related to stress: perceived worries, tension, joy, and demands. Two resilience coping strategies were measured, of which one, a resilient orientation, improved significantly in the short and long term. The study suggests that online self-directed resilience training might provide an easily accessible, low-cost option for patients with MS to improve their psychological resilience. This is a pilot study to assess the general applicability to people with MS. Future studies should examine the transferability of results in relation to disease stage and co-morbidities.

KW - meditation

KW - mindfulness

KW - online training

KW - resilience

KW - stress

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85188776183&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/9ae27d29-bc7f-361b-997d-cdf6f7ca8874/

U2 - 10.3390/healthcare12060620

DO - 10.3390/healthcare12060620

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 38540584

AN - SCOPUS:85188776183

VL - 12

JO - Healthcare (Switzerland)

JF - Healthcare (Switzerland)

SN - 2227-9032

IS - 6

M1 - 620

ER -