THE EFFECT OF BODY AWARENESS LEVEL ON PERCEPTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between individuals' level of body awareness and their perception towards individuals with disabilities.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 250 volunteers aged 18-35 living in Kırklareli participated. Data were collected online using a Demographic Data Form, the Perception Towards Disabled Individuals Scale (PTDIS), and the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ). Relationships were examined using Spearman's correlation analysis, and predictive effects on PTDIS were tested using multiple linear regression analysis.Results: An increase in BAQ scores was found to be positively and significantly, albeit weakly, correlated with an increase in PTDIS scores (r = .209, p < .001). Regression analysis revealed that BAQ (β = .289, p < .001) and age (β = -.194, p = .003) were significant predictors of PTDIS, with the model explaining 9.6% of the total variance [F(3,246)=8.733, p