Effects of an educational socialization program designed to improve self-efficacy and subsequent effects on decreasing loneliness and depression among people with multiple sclerosis

• Main Author: Kalina, Jennifer
• Language: EN
• Published: New York University 2015
• Subjects: Occupational therapy|Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3729794

<p> Objective: To examine whether an educational socialization program, Community Reintegration for Socially Isolated Patients (CRISP), improves self-efficacy and whether improved self-efficacy reduces perceptions of loneliness and depression among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: This study utilized a pretest-posttest randomized experimental control group design to compare the effects of participation in the CRISP intervention program (experimental group) versus a control group who did not participate in the CRISP intervention program. Participants in the experimental group attended a combination of 12 educational and socialization groups over a 12 week duration. Participants in the control groups only received their usual medical care provided at the MS Center and did not participate in any of the CRISP programs during the twelve weeks of the study. Results: Improved self-efficacy for participants in the experimental group was significant as compared to improved self-efficacy of participants in the control group. Additionally, participants in the experimental group who demonstrated improved self-efficacy reported significantly lower perceptions of loneliness as compared to participants in the experimental group that did not improve their self-efficacy. There was no significant difference in depressive symptomatology when comparing participants in the experimental group who demonstrated improved self-efficacy and participants who did not demonstrate improved self-efficacy. Conclusion: CRISP is a promising intervention that may improve self-efficacy and reduce perceptions of loneliness for people with MS. Further research is warranted to determine the nature of the relationship between self-efficacy and depressive symptomatology in people with MS.</p>