Abstract

"It is estimated that there are presently over one thousand million people worldwide living with some kind of disability. In Chile, there are very few studies on this topic without conceptual uniformity. Since 2004, the prevalence is estimated in 12,9% (1). Objectives: Study a sample population taken from the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile, of individuals over 18 years of age who have some kind of motor disability, and observe the relationship with quality of life according to different indicators: time with their disability, mental health and sociodemographic factors. Methodology: This study is a descriptive, transverse correlation. The questionnaires used were the SF- 36 questionnaire for Quality of Life, the Barthel Index for motor disability and the GHQ12 Goldbergfor mental illness. Results: No significant results were found between individuals with an altered mental health (Goldberg ≥ 5) and individuals with some level of dependence on the Barthel Index Scale (Fisher Test = 0.34). There is a 10-point difference in the physical component of the SF-36 questionnaire between individuals with mental health alteration and those without: however, this value is not statistically significant (p = 0.06). Quality of life is lower with regard to the physical component of the SF- 36 as educational level rises: these results are statistically significant. Conclusion: There is no statistical significance between quality of life and mental health alterations in disabled people. We cannot establish a relationship between altered mental health and motor disability. This study shows us the tremendous scope for research on different types of disabilities and their correlation with mental health that still remains. There are still very few studies about the latter and the time individuals have been with this condition, the differences that exist between rehabilitation centers or the differences in mental health and quality of life observed between individuals who attend rehabilitation and those who do not."