Life Satisfaction Among Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries

Journal of Rehabilitation, July-Sept, 2000 by Brent W. Chase, Thomas A. Cornille, R. William English

Note. (*) p < .05 (**) p < .01.

Years since injury (r = .201, p [is less than] .05), control (r = .597, p [is less than] .01), health (r = .184, p [is less than] .01), personal assistance satisfaction (r = .366, p [is less than] .01), and handicap (r = .414, p [is less than] .01) were all positively correlated with life satisfaction. Conversely, the variable communication skills (r = -.200, p [is less than] .05) was negatively correlated with life satisfaction. The negative correlation of communication skills with life satisfaction is a function of the coding schema. For the communications measure, a lower score indicates greater clarity and directness in the exchange of information. Therefore, the greater the clarity and directness of the participant, the greater the life satisfaction.

Other Findings

Using a five-point scale, persons with a spinal cord injury indicated that they were more satisfied with the quality of personal assistance services from other sources ([Bar] x = 3.80) than they were with services from home health care agencies ([Bar] x = 2.92).

Persons with paraplegia were found to be more effective communicators, perceived themselves as having more control, and encountered fewer limitations than did persons with quadriplegia. That persons with paraplegia encountered fewer obstacles than persons with quadriplegia supports the findings reported by Whiteneck et al., (1992). However it is important to note that there were no significant group differences in life satisfaction based upon injury level. This result supports the findings by Woodrich and Patterson (1983). Persons with quadriplegia can be empowered by allowing them to exercise greater choice in self directing their assistance services and home life by removing barriers that obstruct the opportunity to participate in community life.

Sixty-five percent of participants (n = 103) identified themselves as being responsible for directing their own personal assistance services. There was a wide range in the hourly amount of personal assistance services received in a typical 24-hour period depending on who provided the service: spouse (n = 47, [Bar] x = 3.27, married respondents only), recruited (n = 75, [Bar] x = 2.88), agency (n = 74, [Bar] x = 2.81), parent (n = 66, [Bar] x = 1.94), relative (n = 59, [Bar] x = .67), and friend (n = 60, [Bar] x = .89). As severity of the disability decreased so too did the use of personal assistance services.

The questionnaire allowed for more than one source of personal assistance services. The frequency with which each source was selected indicated that persons with a spinal cord injury received assistance from family members (spouse, parent, relative) at a higher rate than any other single category. The per hour rate of pay for personal assistance services decreased when family members provided assistance (spouse = $.40, parent = $.76, other relative = $.57) as compared to agency-provided assistance ($7.14). Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or a combination of these three were identified by 27% of the respondents as contributing to the payment for personal assistance services. One hundred and fifteen respondents (73%) reported annual out of pocket medical expenses of $5,000 or less.