The Effectiveness of an Integrated Intervention of Yoga Exercises and Reality Therapy on Psychological Reactance and Somatic Symptoms in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Keywords:
yoga exercises, reality therapy, psychological reactance, somatic symptoms, multiple sclerosisAbstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS), in addition to somatic symptoms, is associated with various psychological reactions that affect patients’ quality of life. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an integrated intervention of yoga exercises and reality therapy on psychological reactance and somatic symptoms in patients with MS. This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all patients with MS in Tehran in 2026–2027. Using purposive sampling, 30 participants were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received the integrated intervention of yoga exercises and group reality therapy in ten 60-minute sessions, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. The research instruments included the SCL-90 Psychological Symptom Checklist, specifically the somatic complaints component, and the Psychological Reactance Scale (Hong & Faedda, 1996), which were completed at the pretest and posttest stages. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 26. The results showed that the integrated intervention had a significant effect on both psychological reactance (F = 451.27, p < .01) and somatic symptoms (F = 350.29, p < .01). The integrated intervention of yoga exercises and reality therapy can be used as an effective non-pharmacological approach to reducing psychological reactance and somatic symptoms in patients with MS. It is recommended that this intervention be incorporated into rehabilitation programs and psychophysiological care services for these patients.
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