The Relationship Between Spiritual Health and the Levels of Fatigue and Depression in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents the most prevalent progressive neurological disorder among young individuals globally. Patients diagnosed with MS often experience a diverse array of psychological challenges. The current study sought to explore the correlation between spiritual wellbeing and fatigue and depression in individuals with MS who referred to the Tehran MS Association, Tehran City, Iran, in 2024. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population comprised individuals diagnosed with MS who sought assistance from the Tehran MS Association. From this population, 200 participants were selected through continuous sampling in accordance with established inclusion criteria. Data collection instruments included a demographic and disease characteristics questionnaire, the fatigue severity scale (FSS), the Beck depression inventory II (BDI-II), and the Paloutzian and Ellison spiritual wellbeing scale (SWBS). The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including the Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and analysis of variance. The significance level for all tests was set at 0.05. Results: The Mean±SD total scores for fatigue, depression, and spiritual health among the participants were 48.33±14.52, 19.11±13.04, and 92.41±25.09, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fatigue and spiritual health (r=-0.294, P