Predictors of life satisfaction: a spinal cord injury cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine unique demographic, medical, perceived health, and handicap predictors of life satisfaction 2 years after spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as the predictors of change in life satisfaction from year 1 to year 2.


METHODS
Prospective predictive study performed by using longitudinal data from 18 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems.


METHODS
University physical medicine and rehabilitation department.


METHODS
Adults with traumatic onset SCI (N = 940) evaluated at 1 and 2 years' postinjury.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) 2 years post-SCI.


METHODS
demographic characteristics, impairment and disability classifications, and 1 year post-SCI measures of life satisfaction (SWLS), medical complications, self-perceived health (Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey), and extent of handicap (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique).


RESULTS
The factors uniquely associated with an increased risk of lower self-reported life satisfaction at year 2 post-SCI included being male and unemployed, with poor perceived health, decreased mobility, and decreased social integration. After controlling for year 1 estimates of life satisfaction (ie, examining change in life satisfaction), only mobility and perceived health were uniquely related to life satisfaction 2 years post-SCI.


CONCLUSIONS
Mobility and perceived health appear to be the consistent predictors of life satisfaction at year 2 post-SCI, as well as change in satisfaction from year 1 to year 2. Because both factors are amenable to change, they are reasonable targets of intervention programs. Identifying specific mechanisms of perceived health and mobility associated with life satisfaction should be an important area of continued research.
Putzke
John David
JD
Spain Rehabilitation Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1717 6th Avenue S., Birmingham, AL 35233-7330, USA.
Richards
J Scott
JS
Hicken
Bret L
BL
DeVivo
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*