1- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,bbahmani43@yahoo.com
3- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,
3- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (247 Views)
Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological condition that, because of its nature, leads to various physical and psychological consequences for patients and their families and may threaten their sense of meaning in life. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the factors influencing the meaning in life in people living with multiple sclerosis and to analyze the psychological interventions implemented to improve their sense of meaning.
Methods: This study is a systematic review. Articles published in English and Persian between 2000 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Persian databases including Magiran, Noormags, SID, and the Comprehensive Portal of Humanities. The initial search identified 55 articles; after removing duplicates and unrelated studies and based on the inclusion criteria, 10 articles were selected for final analysis. Half of the selected studies were conducted in Iran.
Results: The findings of this review were consolidated into two overarching domains: (1) factors shaping the perceived meaning in life among individuals living with multiple sclerosis, including “spirituality and religious beliefs,” “active acceptance of the illness,” “social support and interpersonal relationships,” “engagement in meaningful activities,” “utilization of professional support,” and “efforts to maintain resilience while living with an unpredictable body”; and (2) effective psychological interventions, comprising existential–spiritual approach, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hope-based interventions, and positive psychology training. Overall, the evidence indicates that these interventions play a significant role in enhancing meaning in life and improving psychological outcomes among people with multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion: This systematic review highlights that the concept of meaning in life encompasses multiple dimensions. within the lived experience of individuals with MS, shaped and enhanced through diverse resources. A deeper understanding of these factors and concepts can inform therapists and rehabilitation policymakers, providing a foundation for designing psychological interventions aimed at fostering and improving patients’ sense of meaning in life. Furthermore, although the reviewed interventions demonstrated effectiveness, most were conducted in Iran; thus, further research in other cultural contexts is recommended.
Methods: This study is a systematic review. Articles published in English and Persian between 2000 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Persian databases including Magiran, Noormags, SID, and the Comprehensive Portal of Humanities. The initial search identified 55 articles; after removing duplicates and unrelated studies and based on the inclusion criteria, 10 articles were selected for final analysis. Half of the selected studies were conducted in Iran.
Results: The findings of this review were consolidated into two overarching domains: (1) factors shaping the perceived meaning in life among individuals living with multiple sclerosis, including “spirituality and religious beliefs,” “active acceptance of the illness,” “social support and interpersonal relationships,” “engagement in meaningful activities,” “utilization of professional support,” and “efforts to maintain resilience while living with an unpredictable body”; and (2) effective psychological interventions, comprising existential–spiritual approach, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hope-based interventions, and positive psychology training. Overall, the evidence indicates that these interventions play a significant role in enhancing meaning in life and improving psychological outcomes among people with multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion: This systematic review highlights that the concept of meaning in life encompasses multiple dimensions. within the lived experience of individuals with MS, shaped and enhanced through diverse resources. A deeper understanding of these factors and concepts can inform therapists and rehabilitation policymakers, providing a foundation for designing psychological interventions aimed at fostering and improving patients’ sense of meaning in life. Furthermore, although the reviewed interventions demonstrated effectiveness, most were conducted in Iran; thus, further research in other cultural contexts is recommended.
Type of Study: Systematic Review |
Subject:
Rehabilitation Counseling
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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC-By-NC 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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