The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term, progressive neurological condition that affects the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the central nervous system. Mental health concerns are often overlooked in individuals with MS, stemming from various aspects of the illness, such as its inherent cha...

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Main Authors: Mahsa Hosseini, Soheila Shamsikhani, Ali Jadidi, Fatemeh Rafiei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1521112/full
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author Mahsa Hosseini
Soheila Shamsikhani
Ali Jadidi
Fatemeh Rafiei
author_facet Mahsa Hosseini
Soheila Shamsikhani
Ali Jadidi
Fatemeh Rafiei
author_sort Mahsa Hosseini
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term, progressive neurological condition that affects the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the central nervous system. Mental health concerns are often overlooked in individuals with MS, stemming from various aspects of the illness, such as its inherent characteristics and symptoms. The present research aimed to examine the impact of Leventhal self-regulation training on stress, anxiety, and depression in MS patients.MethodsThe current study was conducted as a randomized educational trial of 60 women referred to the MS Association in Arak City in 2024. The study implemented self-regulation training via the Leventhal model, which consisted of an initial face-to-face session to provide basic knowledge, eight offline sessions, and two online group sessions. The data were input into SPSS 26 software. Chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests were utilized, independent t-tests, and Mann–Whitney’s nonparametric equivalent. A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to assess the changes over three time points. Additionally, the Bonferroni post hoc correction was utilized. In the present study, data collection consisted of two parts: the demographic information form and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire. The Iranian registry Clinical Trial code (IRCT) is IRCT20220703055351N3.ResultThe findings of this research indicated that there were no disparities in anxiety (p = 0.072), stress (p = 0.067), or depression (p = 0.170) between the control and experimental groups before the intervention. The mean (± standard deviation) anxiety, stress, and depression scores of the experimental group changed from 4.89 (4.34), 8.55 (5.57), and 6.82 (4.26) to 1.96 (2.48), 4.93 (4.55), and 4.37 (3.73) after the intervention, respectively (p < 0.05).DiscussionRecent research has shown that training based on the Leventhal model is effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in MS patients. Additionally, the results showed that the ability of Leventhal training to improve depression was stable for one month.Clinical trial registrationhttps://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/, IRCT20220703055351N3.
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spelling doaj-art-c358cd79322140b68f363d2cb2efb6562025-08-20T03:48:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-05-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15211121521112The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trialMahsa Hosseini0Soheila Shamsikhani1Ali Jadidi2Fatemeh Rafiei3Shazand School of Nursing, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranShazand School of Nursing, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term, progressive neurological condition that affects the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the central nervous system. Mental health concerns are often overlooked in individuals with MS, stemming from various aspects of the illness, such as its inherent characteristics and symptoms. The present research aimed to examine the impact of Leventhal self-regulation training on stress, anxiety, and depression in MS patients.MethodsThe current study was conducted as a randomized educational trial of 60 women referred to the MS Association in Arak City in 2024. The study implemented self-regulation training via the Leventhal model, which consisted of an initial face-to-face session to provide basic knowledge, eight offline sessions, and two online group sessions. The data were input into SPSS 26 software. Chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests were utilized, independent t-tests, and Mann–Whitney’s nonparametric equivalent. A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to assess the changes over three time points. Additionally, the Bonferroni post hoc correction was utilized. In the present study, data collection consisted of two parts: the demographic information form and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire. The Iranian registry Clinical Trial code (IRCT) is IRCT20220703055351N3.ResultThe findings of this research indicated that there were no disparities in anxiety (p = 0.072), stress (p = 0.067), or depression (p = 0.170) between the control and experimental groups before the intervention. The mean (± standard deviation) anxiety, stress, and depression scores of the experimental group changed from 4.89 (4.34), 8.55 (5.57), and 6.82 (4.26) to 1.96 (2.48), 4.93 (4.55), and 4.37 (3.73) after the intervention, respectively (p < 0.05).DiscussionRecent research has shown that training based on the Leventhal model is effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in MS patients. Additionally, the results showed that the ability of Leventhal training to improve depression was stable for one month.Clinical trial registrationhttps://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/, IRCT20220703055351N3.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1521112/fullmultiple sclerosisLeventhal’s self-regulationanxietystressdepression
spellingShingle Mahsa Hosseini
Soheila Shamsikhani
Ali Jadidi
Fatemeh Rafiei
The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
Frontiers in Neurology
multiple sclerosis
Leventhal’s self-regulation
anxiety
stress
depression
title The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
title_full The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
title_fullStr The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
title_full_unstemmed The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
title_short The effects of Leventhal’s self-regulation model-based educational intervention on stress, anxiety, and depression in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized educational trial
title_sort effects of leventhal s self regulation model based educational intervention on stress anxiety and depression in women with multiple sclerosis a randomized educational trial
topic multiple sclerosis
Leventhal’s self-regulation
anxiety
stress
depression
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1521112/full
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