Physical and Psychological Effects of Sports Participation and its Reflections on Quality of Life in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, and Amputations
JOURNAL OF TURKISH STUDIES, cilt.21, sa.Ö1, ss.3355-3389, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 21 Sayı: Ö1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.7827/turkishstudies.89100
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF TURKISH STUDIES
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: IBZ Online, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.3355-3389
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of sports participation on psychological well-being, motivation for physical activity participation, and life satisfaction in individuals with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and amputations, and to determine whether these effects differ according to the type of disability. The sample of the study consists of a total of 117 disabled individuals living in Istanbul, aged between 18 and 45 years. The Psychological Well-being Scale, the Motivation for Physical Activity Participation and the Life Satisfaction Scale were used in the data collection process. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0; descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were applied. The findings showed that motivation for participation in physical activity and life satisfaction differed significantly according to the type of disability, while psychological well-being did not differ according to the type of disability. It was determined that individuals with amputations have higher levels of motivation and life satisfaction compared to other disability groups. Multiple regression analysis results revealed that psychological well-being was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction. The results indicate that sports participation plays a significant role in increasing life satisfaction among individuals with disabilities, and that this effect is strengthened through psychosocial processes. This study demonstrates that sports participation plays a significant role in increasing life satisfaction among individuals with disabilities, and that this effect is strengthened through psychological wellbeing and motivational processes. While differences in physical activity motivation and life satisfaction levels are observed depending on the type of disability, it is understood that psychological well-being can be supported through participation in sports, regardless of the type of disability. Research findings indicate that sports and physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities should be structured not only with a focus on physical rehabilitation but also to strengthen psychological well-being and motivation. Practitioners are advised to develop individualized sports approaches aimed at increasing motivation, especially in individuals with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy. Researchers are also advised to investigate the psychosocial effects of sports more deeply through longitudinal and experimental studies encompassing different disability groups.