Introduction Motor imagery training delivered at home via telerehabilitation is a novel rehabilitation concept. The aim was to investigate the effects of telerehabilitation-based motor imaging training (Tele-MIT) on gait, balance and cognitive and psychosocial outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Methods This randomized, controlled pilot trial included pwMS and healthy individuals. pwMS were randomly divided into two groups, intervention and control. The intervention group received Tele-MIT twice a week for 8 weeks. The control group was a wait-list group without any additional specific treatment. Healthy participants served as a baseline comparison. The Dynamic Gait Index, used to assess dynamic balance during walking, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included assessments of walking speed, endurance and perceived ability, balance performance assessed by a computerized posturography device, balance confidence, cognitive functions, fatigue, anxiety, depression and quality of life. Results Baseline comparisons with healthy individuals revealed that motor imagery abilities were preserved in pwMS ( p > 0.05). The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in dynamic balance during walking ( p = 0.002), walking speed ( p = 0.007), perceived walking ability ( p = 0.008), balance confidence ( p = 0.002), most cognitive functions ( p = 0.001–0.008), fatigue ( p = 0.001), anxiety ( p = 0.001), depression ( p = 0.005) and quality of life ( p = 0.002). No significant changes were observed in the control group in any of the outcome measures ( p > 0.05). Discussion Tele-MIT is a novel method that proved feasible and effective in improving dynamic balance during walking, walking speed and perceived walking ability, balance confidence, cognitive functions, fatigue, anxiety, depression and quality of life in pwMS.

Lifestyle choices play a major role in health outcomes. Hence, examination of factors associated with a healthy lifestyle is important for health promotion. Self-compassion is related to health behaviors but research on the role of self-compassion facets (self-kindness vs. self-judgment, common humanity vs. isolation, mindfulness vs. over-identification) on health behaviors is scarce. A total of 423 Turkish undergraduates completed Self-Compassion Scale and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Health behaviors positively correlated with self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, and total self-compassion but not with self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that mindfulness, self-kindness, and self-judgment were significant predictors of health behaviors. Results may guide clinicians about which components to focus on in self-compassion interventions designed for health promotion.

Previous research indicates that people with higher levels of self-actualization have lower death anxiety and that negative emotional states are related to death anxiety. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and self-actualization, depression, and trait anxiety. A Turkish sample of 116 undergraduates and adults completed Templer's Death Anxiety Scale, Personal Orientation Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory's Trait Anxiety Form. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the only significant predictors of death anxiety were trait anxiety and gender. The correlation between death anxiety and self -actualization was found to be negative and statistically significant (p < .001). Women had significantly higher death anxiety compared to men; whereas death anxiety mean scores did not show significant differences by age group and the belief in afterlife. In conclusion, this study supports the assumptions of the existential school regarding the association between death anxiety and self-actualization.

Objective: To examine the association of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with mental health, self-esteem, and selfcompassion in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Method: For this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a total of 89 volunteer Turkish MS patients completed the patient information form, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and MS International Quality of Life Questionnaire. Depressed patients were compared with nondepressed patients regarding HRQoL, self-esteem, and self-compassion. Bivariate correlations between HRQoL, self-esteem, self-compassion, and mental health indices were calculated followed by hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Depressed MS patients had significantly lower HRQoL, self-esteem, and self-compassion compared to their nondepressed counterparts. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that physical HRQoL was significantly predicted by disability status and self-compassion, explaining 48% of the total variance. Anxiety and self-esteem explained 52% of the total variance of psychological HRQoL. Social HRQoL was significantly predicted by depression and self-esteem, which explained 21% of the total variance. Conclusion: The effects of MS and disability may not be avoidable, but self-related traits including self-esteem and selfcompassion can be modified through psychosocial interventions to improve HRQoL. The findings of the current study provided insights into which psychosocial factors to address in improving different domains of HRQoL in MS patients. Cultivating selfcompassion may increase HRQoL in the physical domain, while working with self-esteem and self-worth may improve the psychosocial domain.

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