Relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

Background and Purpose: Spiritual health is one of the most critical health dimensions with remarkable influence on the life of individuals. Religion and spirituality play a pivotal role incoping with stressful events in life. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between spiritual health and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 223 patients at Mazandaran Multiple Sclerosis Association (MMSA), Iran in&nbsp;2015.Participantswere selected via convenience sampling. Data collection tools included Paloutzian&rsquo;s spiritual well-being questionnaire&nbsp;and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL-54) scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.18 using ANOVA, T-test, and&nbsp;Pearson's correlation-coefficient. Results: In this study, the majority of MS patients (71.7%, n=160) had average spiritual health, and mean score of quality of life was&nbsp;50.2&plusmn;12. Moreover, significant correlationswere observed between the total score of quality of life with dimensions of existential health&nbsp;(P<0.0001, r=0.97), religious health (P<0.0001, r=0.95), and total score ofspiritual health (P<0.0001, r=0.97). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, spiritual health and religious beliefs could improve the quality of life in MS patients.&nbsp;Spiritual health is inherent to the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as MS. In Iran, ideational and religious&nbsp;doctrines remarkably influence people&rsquo;s lives. Therefore, provision of culture-based and meaning-orientated care and adopting a&nbsp;wholesome attitude towards different aspects of MS could help medical professionals to offer the required services for these patients.