Psychological adjustment to spinal cord injury in Ireland: quality of life, appraisals and coping

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the relationships of appraisals, coping strategies and support with mood and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional design was employed. The study included 25 participants (Mean age=35.6 years, SD=13.51; 18 males and 7 females) who had been admitted to a specialist inpatient SCI centre in Dublin, Ireland following acute SCI. Participants were approached as soon as medically stable and invited to complete a variety of questionnaires upon commencement of active rehabilitation (approximately 12 weeks post-injury). The results showed that mood and QOL ratings were not affected by gender, age or employment status. Significant differences were found on several variables in relation to injury type. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between participant's sense of coherence (SOC), appraisals and coping strategies in relation to their injury and scores on measures of depression and QOL. Individuals with a strong SOC, who appraised their injury in an unthreatening manner, accepted the injury and felt able to manage the consequences of their injury rated their QOL as higher and scored lower on measures of anxiety and depression. The study provides evidence for the influence of psychological factors over and above demographic and injury variables on QOL ratings. The study also highlights how psychological factors are related to ratings of physical, environmental and social QOL in addition to mood and adjustment.

Keywords:

• spinal cord injury
• appraisals
• quality of life
• adjustment
• coping

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to all of the individuals who participated in the study. Thanks also to Laura Blakey for her assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.