title: Changes and determinants of life satisfaction after spinal cord injury: a cohort study in the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of spinal cord injury (SCI) on life satisfaction of persons with SCI 1 year after discharge of inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study. Life satisfaction before SCI was retrospectively measured at the start of active rehabilitation. One year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, current life satisfaction was measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rehabilitation centers in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons (N=147) aged 18 to 65 and wheelchair-dependent at least for long distances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean satisfaction with life +/- SD as a whole was 5.3+/-0 before SCI and 4.3+/-1.3 one year after inpatient rehabilitation. Sexual life, self-care, and vocational situation showed the largest impact of SCI (P<.05), whereas the social relationships domains appeared to be the least affected. Decrease of life satisfaction after SCI was larger when using the retrospective ratings than when using general population scores. Significant determinants of life satisfaction after SCI were high lesion level (beta=.31, P<.05), pain (beta=.19, P<.05), and secondary impairments (beta=.22, P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Life satisfaction decreased in persons with SCI. Level of lesion and suffering secondary impairments or pain were associated with low life satisfaction 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.v.koppenhagen@dehoogstraat.nl
authors.forename: Casper F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van Koppenhagen
authors.forename: Marcel W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Luc H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: van der Woude
authors.forename: Luc P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: de Witte
authors.forename: Floris W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van Asbeck
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindeman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires