Impact of injury level and self-monitoring on free time boredom of people with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not level of injury and personality characteristics creates an interaction effect that impacts the free time boredom of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Using a survey method, a packet containing a cover letter, a consent form, research questionnaires, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope was sent to 500 individuals with SCI who were randomly selected by computer at one of the rehabilitation centres in USA. The research questionnaires included the measures of self-monitoring (SM) and free time boredom (FTB) along with some demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, injury level, and etc.


RESULTS
This study found that a significant interaction effect between injury level and SM on FTB. That is, low self-monitors with tetraplegia reported higher levels of boredom in free time than high self-monitors with paraplegia.


CONCLUSIONS
Not all individuals with similar injury levels rate FTB in a similar degree. Individuals' personality characteristics play an important role in experiencing FTB. In particular, the significant interaction effect indicates a potential risk factor for clients with tetraplegia who are low in SM which should be an important consideration in the lives of people with tetraplegia following rehabilitation.
Lee
Youngkhill
Y
Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. ylee@indiana.edu
Mittelstaedt
Robin
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001887:Boredom; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000523:psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires