Changes and determinants of life satisfaction after spinal cord injury: a cohort study in the Netherlands.
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.
van Koppenhagen
Casper F
CF
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.v.koppenhagen@dehoogstraat.nl
Post
Marcel W
MW
van der Woude
Luc H
LH
de Witte
Luc P
LP
van Asbeck
Floris W
FW
de Groot
Sonja
S
van den Heuvel
Wim
W
Lindeman
Eline
E
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