Investigating the relationships between body appreciation, social anxiety, psychological flexbility, and satisfaction with life in individuals with neuromuscular diseases

The present study aims to examine the mediating role of psychological flexibility in relationships between body appreciation, social anxiety, and satisfaction with life of individuals with neuromuscular diseases. The study consists of 88 participants who are over 18 years ago, literate and have a diagnosis of neuromuscular disease for at least 6 months. The participants were administered a questionnaire battery consisting of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Body Satisfaction Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale and Psychological Flexibility Scale. According to the study findings, psychological flexibility plays a mediating role in the relationship between body appreciaton and satisfaction with life, in the relationship between body appreciation and social anxiety, and finally, in the relationship between social anxiety and satisfaction with life. The present study shows that psychological flexibility is important as a preventive intervention for individuals with neuromuscular diseases and contributes to the limited number of literature on neuromuscular diseases, which are among the rare diseases group.