Life satisfaction and mental problems in patients receiving physiotherapy due to musculoskeletal disorders

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the level of life satisfaction and mental health status in individuals attending physical therapy centers, as well as the factors influencing these variables. The research, designed as a descriptive and cross-sectional analytical study, included a total of 331 individuals over the age of 18 who received physiotherapy at two hospitals located in the city center of Yozgat Turkey. Data were collected using a socio-demographic information form, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Personal Wellbeing Index – Adult Form (PWI-A), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data analysis was performed using non-parametric tests, Spearman correlation, and multinomial logistic regression (MLR). Most of the participants were women (61.6%), predominantly in the 40–49 (23.3%) and 50–59 (22.7%) age groups; 78.2% were married, and 36.3% were university graduates. More than half of the participants reported moderate pain (50.5%) and moderate health status (51.4%). Among the participants, 27.5% had low, 29.6% had moderate, and 42.9% had high levels of psychological symptom scores. According to MLR analysis, decreased life satisfaction, increased difficulties in daily living activities, negative perception of health, and unemployment were identified as significant predictors of a higher likelihood of experiencing severe psychological symptoms. Mental health status did not differ significantly based on the body region treated with physiotherapy, previous physiotherapy experience, pain level, or other demographic factors. The results demonstrate that individuals' life satisfaction and mental health status are closely related, with health perception emerging as a particularly strong predictor. Based on these findings, it is recommended that psychosocial characteristics of individuals be assessed during physiotherapy and that holistic interventions be planned accordingly.