Texas Woman's University
The goal of this study is to learn how a six-week, nurse-led virtual group program may affect meaning in life and quality of life in adult women living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Many people with MS describe changes in identity, purpose, and daily life. This study will help researchers understand whether a structured group program can support women as they explore meaning and purpose while living with MS. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How does the program affect how participants search for meaning in life? * How does it affect their sense of life purpose or direction? * How does it affect their overall quality of life? This study uses a single-group design. All participants will take part in the six-week virtual group program. The program is led by a registered nurse and focuses on guided reflection, values exploration, and group discussion. Participants will: * Attend one virtual group session for one hour each week for six weeks * Take part in guided discussions and reflection exercises * Complete three online surveys: one before the program begins, one at Week 3, and one after Week 6 * Use a computer, tablet, or phone to join all virtual sessions The surveys will ask about: * How participants search for meaning in their lives * How much purpose and direction they feel * Their physical and emotional quality of life There are no medications, invasive procedures, or in-person visits in this study.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves complex psychological and existential challenges that may influence well-being, identity, and perceived life direction. PURPOSE-MS is a structured behavioral intervention designed to support meaning-making and purpose exploration among adult women with MS. This study uses a repeated-measures, single-group design to evaluate within-participant change across meaning-related constructs and quality of life over a six-week intervention period. The study integrates two complementary frameworks. The quantitative portion is grounded in the Purpose and Mean…
Inclusion Criteria: * women * over the age of 18 * a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (Primary Progressive, Relapsing-Remitting, Secondary Progressive) * access to a device with internet capability as well as audio and video functions * comfortable reading, writing, and participating in group discussions in English Exclusion Criteria: * currently enrolled (or have been enrolled within the last 4 weeks) of any similar group based intervention therapy (logotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
The Nurse-Led Virtual Purpose-Building Intervention is a six-week, synchronous behavioral program delivered in small groups through a secure videoconferencing platform. Sessions are facilitated by a registered nurse trained in the study protocol. Each weekly session lasts 60 minutes and follows a standardized structure that includes: (1) an opening reflective prompt or grounding exercise, (2) guided group dialogue focused on meaning, identity, and purpose in the context of living with Multiple Sclerosis, (3) a brief integrative activity such as journaling or values-based reflection, and (4) a closing synthesis. The intervention emphasizes person-centered exploration, reflective engagement, and meaning-making rather than clinical counseling or symptom management. No medical treatments, diagnostic procedures, or therapeutic techniques are used. Fidelity to session structure is supported through a facilitator manual and weekly documentation.