The Effect of Spiritual Therapy on Happiness Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objectives: Reduced happiness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) negatively affects their quality of life and the course of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of spiritual therapy on happiness among patients with MS. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental, using a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. A sample of ۳۴ patients with MS in Tehran Province, Iran, who scored one standard deviation below the mean on the happiness scale, was selected from medical educational centers and private neurology clinics using a convenience sampling method. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups and completed the Oxford happiness questionnaire. The experimental group received eight sessions of group therapy based on a spiritual therapy approach, whereas the control group received no treatment. The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance test. Results: The results indicated that spiritual therapy significantly influenced the dimensions of happiness in patients with MS, accounting for approximately ۴۰% of the variance in their happiness. Conclusion: The findings suggest that, in the treatment of chronic physical illnesses, emphasizing spiritual therapy and helping patients find meaning in their lives can substantially reduce the burden and severity of the disease.

کلیدواژه ها:

Spiritual Therapy ، Positive Emotions ، Life Satisfaction ، Lack of Negative Emotions ، Multiple Sclerosis ، معنویت درمانی ، شادکامی ، عاطفه مثبت ، رضایتمندی از زندگی ، بیماران مولتیپل اسکلروزیس