Open AccessPromoting resilience in individuals aging with multiple sclerosis: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Author(s) -
Kevin N. Alschuler,
Anne Arewasikporn,
Ian K Nelson,
Ivan Molton,
Dawn M. Ehde
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
rehabilitation psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.673
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1939-1544
pISSN - 0090-5550
DOI - 10.1037/rep0000223
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , mood , psycinfo , psychology , psychological resilience , clinical psychology , context (archaeology) , coping (psychology) , social support , life satisfaction , physical therapy , medicine , medline , psychotherapist , paleontology , surgery , political science , law , biology
Starting in middle adulthood, individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) are confronted with the simultaneous challenge of coping with advancing MS alongside age-related changes. Psychological resilience is thought to play an important role in promoting healthy aging and thus may be important in the context of aging with MS. This study aimed to evaluate whether Everyday Matters, a novel positive psychology program, had a positive effect on resilience and other related outcomes in adults with MS relative to a wait-list control group. Research Method/Design: This was a single-center two-group pilot randomized (1:1) controlled trial comparing the Everyday Matters intervention to a waitlist control. Randomized participants were N = 31 adults with MS aged ≥ 45 years. The 6-week program, developed by the National MS Society, was delivered via group teleconference and supplemented with readings, videos, and online participation. Participants in both groups completed outcome assessments measuring resilience, satisfaction with social roles, mood, pain, fatigue, and sleep at baseline and posttreatment.