Girls with spinal cord injury: social and job-related participation and psychosocial outcomes.
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.
Gorzkowski
Julie A
JA
Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60707, USA. jgorzkowski@shrinenet.org
Kelly
Erin H
EH
Klaas
Sara J
SJ
Vogel
Lawrence C
LC
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*