Stress and coping in spouses of persons with spinal cord injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the sources of stress and the patterns of coping of spouses of persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) among Hong Kong Chinese.


METHODS
A cross-sectional correlation design. A set of structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered.


METHODS
Forty spouses of persons with SCI were recruited and interviewed.


METHODS
These included coping strategies, depression, care-giving burden, life satisfaction and marital adjustment.


RESULTS
The most stressful situations reported by the participants concerned health issues of their injured partners, the family and marital interactions, and the care-giving burden imposed on them. Cluster analysis indicated a potential at-risk group, characterized by high scores in external locus of control, inadequate coping modes and limited social support. They were noted to manifest high levels of depression, care-giving burden, low levels of life satisfaction and marital adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of the potential at-risk group indicates that spouses of persons with SCI suffer levels of stress comparable to those of their injured partners. Rehabilitation plans should include this potential at-risk group to help them release the stress and to prevent them from developing clinically significant mental disorders.
Chan
R C
RC
Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, China. ckrchan@hkusua.hku.hk
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries; D018454:Spouses; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires