This study indicated that spirituality after SCI plays an important role for both the injured individual and their family members. Families draw upon a range of sources of spirituality, and these sources of spirituality may assist the family to move forward together after SCI. Further investigation of how health professionals can better address spirituality during spinal rehabilitation is warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Higher levels of spirituality were associated with improved quality of life, life satisfaction, mental health, and resilience for individuals affected by spinal cord injury. Health professionals can enhance the role that spirituality plays in spinal rehabilitation by incorporating the spiritual beliefs of individuals and their family members into assessment and intervention. By drawing upon meaning-making tools, such as narrative therapy, incorporating peer support, and assisting clients who report a decline in spirituality, health professionals can provide additional support to individuals and their family members as they adjust to changes after spinal cord injury.

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Objective: To test a model of spiritual well-being and resilience among individuals with spinal cord injuries and their family members. Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational data were analyzed by structural equation modelling. Setting: Inpatient and community services at one rehabilitation hospital. Subjects: Individual with spinal cord injury ( n = 50) and family member ( n = 50) dyads. Interventions: Standard rehabilitation, both inpatient and community. Main measure(s): Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy – spiritual well-being scale – expanded, Connor–Davidson resilience scale, positive and negative affect scale, depression anxiety and stress scale–21, satisfaction with life scale. Results: Median time post-injury was 8.95 months (IQR (interquartile range) = 14.15). Individuals with spinal cord injury and family members reported high scores for both spiritual well-being (66.06 ± 14.89; 68.42 ± 13.75) and resilience (76.68 ± 13.88; 76.64 ± 11.75), respectively. Analysis found the model had acceptable fit (e.g. chi-square goodness of fit statistic = 38.789; P = .263). For individuals with spinal cord injury, spiritual well-being was positively associated with resilience which, in turn, was associated with increasing positive affect and satisfaction with life. Among family members, spiritual well-being was positively associated with resilience. Resilience was then associated with lowered levels of depression and mediated the impact of depression on satisfaction with life. Limited evidence was found for mutual dyadic links, with the only significant pathway finding that resilience in the individual with spinal cord injury was associated with increased satisfaction with life among family members. Conclusion: Increased spirituality and resilience make a significant contribution (both independently and in combination) to positive psychological outcomes for both individuals with spinal cord injury and their family members.

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