Can feeling more in control help protect your wellbeing with MS? New research suggests it might.

Living with MS can bring uncertainty. Symptoms can change, energy levels can fluctuate, and everyday plans may need to shift. On top of this, life continues to bring its own challenges, from work pressures and financial worries to family dynamics.  

New research suggests that having a greater sense of control over how you respond to life’s challenges may help protect mental wellbeing and fatigue when stressful life events happen. 

This does not mean that people can control MS, or that stress can simply be avoided. But it does point to something hopeful: the skills, support and daily choices that help people feel more informed, prepared and able to respond may make a meaningful difference. 

What did the research look at?

The study looked at data from 948 people living with MS as part of the HOLISM (Health Outcomes and Lifestyle In a Sample of people with MS) research project. Researchers explored whether stressful life events were linked with mental quality of life, physical quality of life and fatigue. 

They also looked at something called “self-mastery”. This means the sense that you have some influence over your life and how you respond to what happens. 

For someone living with MS, self-mastery might mean feeling better able to make informed choices, ask for support, adapt routines, manage stress, or take small practical steps that support wellbeing.

What did the study find?

The researchers found that stressful life events were associated with lower mental quality of life in people with low or moderate self-mastery. However, this association was not seen in people with high self-mastery. 

They also found that stressful life events were linked with higher odds of clinically significant fatigue, mainly in people with low self-mastery. 

In other words, people with a stronger sense of being able to respond to life’s challenges appeared to be less affected by the impact of stressful events on mental wellbeing and fatigue. 

This is important because stress is part of life. For people living with MS, stressful life events may arrive alongside the ongoing uncertainty of symptoms, treatment decisions and day-to-day self-management. Research like this helps us understand what might support wellbeing when life feels particularly difficult. 

The authors are careful to note that the study cannot prove cause and effect. They also highlight that the study participants may not fully reflect the wider MS community, as they were generally more educated, had more social support and had better clinical characteristics than those excluded. Even so, the findings point to an important area for future research: whether supporting self-mastery could help protect wellbeing for people living with MS. 

Why this matters for people with MS?

After an MS diagnosis, it is common to feel that control has been taken away. Many people describe not knowing what to do next, what information to trust, or how to support their health alongside medical care. 

At Overcoming MS, we hear this often from our community. People want evidence-based information, but they also want practical steps they can take in real life. They want to feel less alone, more confident and more able to make choices that support their long-term wellbeing. 

This is where Overcoming MS can play an important role. We bring together evidence-based recommendations around diet, vitamin D, physical activity, stress management, medication, family health and community support. These are practical areas where people may be able to take positive action. 

For many people, making lifestyle changes, learning more about MS and connecting with others can help them feel more informed, supported and better able to respond to challenges. 

Practical ways to support your sense of control

There is no single approach that works for everyone, but evidence-informed lifestyle choices may help you feel more supported in managing MS. 

You might start by choosing one area to focus on: 

• Building regular physical activity into your routine in a way that feels manageable. 

• Trying meditation or another stress-reduction practice. 

• Reviewing your vitamin D levels with your healthcare professional. 

• Exploring simple, nourishing recipes that support your health. 

• Connecting with others living with MS through the Live Well Hub. 

The aim is not to add pressure. It is to build confidence, knowledge and support over time. 

Stressful life events cannot always be prevented, and MS cannot always be predicted. But with the right information, tools and support, people living with MS can take positive steps to support their wellbeing. 

Explore the Overcoming MS Program to learn more about evidence-based lifestyle choices that can support you to live well with MS. 

Read the full paper: Self-mastery buffers associations between stressful life events and mental quality of life and fatigue in people living with multiple sclerosis | Quality of Life Research | Springer Nature Link