How Perceived Independence Affects Life Satisfaction Through Motivation in Individuals with Acquired Disabilities

This study aimed to examine how perceived independence affects life satisfaction through the mediating role of motivation in individuals with acquired disabilities. The research employed a descriptive correlational design with a sample of 400 individuals with acquired disabilities from the United States. Participants were selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size determination table and completed three standardized instruments: the Perceived Independence Scale (PIS), the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) adapted for general motivation, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analyzed using SPSS-27 for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations, and AMOS-21 for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Assumptions of normality, linearity, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity were confirmed prior to analysis. Descriptive results indicated moderately high levels of perceived independence (M = 43.26, SD = 6.87), motivation (M = 58.74, SD = 9.42), and life satisfaction (M = 24.51, SD = 5.63). Pearson correlation showed that perceived independence was positively associated with both motivation (r = .58, p < .001) and life satisfaction (r = .52, p < .001), and motivation was strongly correlated with life satisfaction (r = .61, p < .001). SEM analysis confirmed the model’s good fit (χ²/df = 2.34, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.058) and demonstrated that motivation significantly mediated the relationship between perceived independence and life satisfaction. The total effect of perceived independence on life satisfaction was β = .58, including both direct (β = .31) and indirect (β = .27) effects through motivation. Perceived independence significantly contributes to life satisfaction in individuals with acquired disabilities, both directly and indirectly through enhanced motivation. These findings underscore the importance of fostering autonomy and self-determined motivation in rehabilitation and psychosocial interventions to improve the well-being of this population.