Reflecting on subjective well-being and spinal cord injury

Abstract

Comparatively few factors were significantly associated with normative subjective well-being, but the results help to explain observed contradictions noted in previous research into subjective well-being after spinal cord injuries. The results highlight the resilience of individuals in general and are in keeping with the disability paradox. However, many individuals with spinal cord injuries do not live satisfactory lives. It is for them that further psychological care and rehabilitation is necessary to create a good life after spinal cord injury.

Associations between psychological factors and quality of life ratings in persons with spinal cord injury: a systematic review

“…In total, 18 of the 77 associations between active problem-focused coping variables and QOL were significant. 21,[29][30][31]33,34,36,37,[42][43][44]58,59 All active problem-focused coping variables showed more nonsignificant than significant relationships, and did not show consistent relationships with QOL outcome measures over time.…”

“…52,57 Although behavioral disengagement, denial, avoidance and social reliance were moderately to strongly related to QOL in some studies, they were not consistently related to QOL across studies. 30,[33][34][35]37,[42][43][44]49,55,58,59 Determinants unrelated to QOL Surprisingly, none of the active problem-focused coping variables were consistently associated with QOL outcomes. An explanation for the lack of association between active problem-focused coping and QOL might be that in situations where goals are blocked, such as in the case with an SCI, actively adjusting life circumstances to one's personal preferences is not very effective.…”

“…In total, 45 out of 78 associations were significant. 30,[33][34][35]37,[42][43][44]49,52,55,[57][58][59] For the coping variables that were longitudinally examined, mental disengagement, behavioral disengagement and alcohol/drug use were related to greater depression and anxiety. [42][43][44] Denial showed an inconsistent relationship to QOL outcomes, correlating positively with greater life satisfaction in a cross-sectional study, 55 and positively with depression and anxiety in several longitudinal studies.…”

“…31 In all, 3 out of 21 studies on coping could not be classified in the global tripartite characterization used in this review. 19,59,60 Two studies examined distinct clusters of coping styles in persons with SCI. 19,60 One of these studies found that subjects in cluster 1 utilized more wishful thinking, mixed coping, growth coping and self-blame coping than subjects in cluster 2, and also reported higher depression scores and experienced more psychological distress.…”

“…60 Finally, a high emotional distress group had a significantly higher mean on threat minimization than a low distress group. 59 Miscellaneous variables. Several determinants were examined in only a single study and are not displayed in Table 4.…”