The relationship between self-transcendence and perceived physical health in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) attending peer support groups

According to the self-transcendence model, interventions to promote the level of self-transcendence can in turn improve physical health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-transcendence and perceived physical health in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) attending peer support groups.

This quasi-experimental study used pretest and posttest to investigate the relationship between self-transcendence and perceived physical health in 33 patients with confirmed MS.Patients participated in three peer support groups (10 males in the male group, 11 females in female group and 12 males and females in the mixed group). Participants were required to attend 8 weekly sessions comprising 2 hours each. Data was collected by the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) and physical health section of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman and Pearson coefficients were used for data analysis.

Comparing mean scores of self-transcendence (pretest: 44.57 (8.2); posttest: 53.21 (6.2);P = 0.001) and physical health status (pretest: 151.84 (33.3); posttest 171.58 (37.5); P = 0.009) showed significant differences after attending peer support groups. There was a positive relationship between selftranscendence and physical health status (P = 0.01).

The results showed that promoting self-transcendence would lead to enhanced physical health status and the quality of life in general.