The physical self-concept in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders

Patients suffering from depressive and/or anxiety disorders are characterized by a low physical selfconcept. The objective of the present study was to investigate which variables were related to the physical self-concept in these patients. One hundred and ninety-one patients (67 males and 124 females) hospitalized in a university psychiatric hospital in Belgium took part in the study. The severity of depression and anxiety, level of physical activity, physical self-concept, perceived benefits and barriers towards physical exercise, and motivation towards psychomotor therapy were assessed by means of questionnaires and a visual analogue scale. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to ascertain the explaining variables of the physical self-concept. The explaining variables, in order of importance, were: severity of depression, barriers towards physical exercise, motivation towards psychomotor therapy, level of physical activity, age and gender. Patients with a low physical self-concept are characterized by a high severity of depression, a low level of physical activity and a low motivation towards psychomotor therapy. They also experience many barriers towards physical exercise.