title: Girls with spinal cord injury: social and job-related participation and psychosocial outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine social and job-related participation among girls with spinal cord injury (SCI) and relationships between participation, depression, and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This sample included 97 girls (aged 7-17 years) who had sustained SCI at least 1 year prior to interview, and who were receiving care at three pediatric SCI centers within a single hospital system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, Children's Depression Inventory, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Caregivers completed a demographics form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Girls participated more often in social activities than in job-related activities and participated in social activities with a more diverse group and further from home. A broader context of social participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life. Higher frequency of job-related participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social and job-related participation are related to psychosocial outcomes among girls with SCI. Participation in social and job-related activities should be a focus of rehabilitation for girls, because the skills gained from this involvement may help build resilience against future obstacles to socialization and employment.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60707, USA. jgorzkowski@shrinenet.org
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gorzkowski
authors.forename: Erin H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Klaas
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*