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

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) present significant psychological and physical challenges.
• Living with MS necessitates psychological resilience for effective coping with stress and uncertainty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a four-week online, self-directed resilience training program on psychological resilience in MS patients.
• To assess changes in stress perception and coping strategies following the resilience intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 94 MS patients.
• The experimental group participated in a 28-day online resilience training program with daily exercises.
• Psychological resilience was measured via self-assessment pre-training, post-training, and at a three-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in perceived stress factors: worries, tension, joy, and demands.
• A resilient orientation coping strategy showed significant short-term and long-term improvement.
• The online training demonstrated positive effects on psychological resilience in MS patients.

Conclusions:

• Online self-directed resilience training offers an accessible and cost-effective method to enhance psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis patients.
• This pilot study indicates the general applicability of such programs for MS populations.
• Future research should explore the effectiveness across different disease stages and comorbidities.