Narrative analysis and clinical meta-synthesis of YouTube storytelling by men living with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

In the digital era, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) turn to platforms like YouTube (YT) for information and support, where diverse illness narratives intersect. Evidence suggests that men with MS, an underrepresented population subject to critical experiences of disability, particularly go online to gain agency, connectedness, and reshape their present and future identity with illness. However, little is known about the narratives conveyed in staged MS experiences on YT, and, to our knowledge, no studies have examined how men use this platform to communicate about the disease. This study explores such content to analyze how men with relapsing-remitting MS construct and share their experiences online. We selected YT videos from three sources: MS associations, pharmaceutical companies, and independent influencers. The material was analyzed independently and simultaneously using three complementary narrative approaches, integrated through a critical clinical meta-synthesis. Our findings reveal a common trajectory of identity transformation, often framed as a before-and-after shift linked to the illness experience. While these narratives convey hope and agency for resilience, they may also risk promoting oversimplified positivity and alienating those who struggle. The findings raise clinical and ethical concerns regarding the balance between empowering and stigmatizing messages. This offers implications for clinical practice and the design of supportive, inclusive interventions tailored to the diverse experiences of people with MS.