title: Modeling life satisfaction in spinal cord injury: the role of psychological resources.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were (1) to examine the associations between the psychological resources general self-efficacy (GSE) and purpose in life (PIL), appraisals, coping and life satisfaction, and (2) to examine whether the effects of the psychological resources on life satisfaction are mediated by appraisals and coping, as proposed by the spinal cord injury adjustment model (SCIAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional multicenter study conducted with persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community in Switzerland (N = 516). Pearson's correlations were calculated for aim 1, and structural equation modeling was conducted to address aim 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GSE (r = .48) and PIL (r = .58) were positively related to life satisfaction. The initial model corresponding to the SCIAM yielded a poor model fit. The final model had a good model fit [χ (2) = 66.0, df = 21, p < .01, RMSEA = .065 (90 % confidence interval .048-.082), CFI = .97] explaining 57 % of variance of life satisfaction. PIL had a direct large effect on life satisfaction (β = .54). The influence of GSE on life satisfaction was mediated by loss appraisals. Avoidance, active and humor coping had small effects on life satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological resources have a substantial effect on life satisfaction in persons with SCI. Our results correspond with the SCIAM and its conceptualization of adjustment as a multifactorial process, but did not fully support the hypothesized mediation. PIL was strongly related to higher life satisfaction and may be a suitable intervention target to support persons with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), Nottwil, Switzerland, claudio.peter@paraplegie.ch.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Alarcos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cieza
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Christel M C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Christina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geyh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland