Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1733-1740, September 2008

Changes and Determinants of Life Satisfaction After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cohort Study in The Netherlands

  • Casper F. van Koppenhagen, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Rehabiliation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Casper F. van Koppenhagen, MD, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation Center Utrecht, PO Box 85238, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 3583 TM
    • ,
  • Marcel W. Post, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Rehabiliation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Luc H. van der Woude, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Free University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Luc P. de Witte, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Floris W. van Asbeck, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Rehabiliation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Sonja de Groot, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Free University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Wim van den Heuvel, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Eline Lindeman, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Rehabiliation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands

published online 04 August 2008.

Abstract 

van Koppenhagen CF, Post MW, van der Woude LH, de Witte LP, van Asbeck FW, de Groot S, van den Heuvel W, Lindeman E. 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.

Design

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.

Setting

Eight rehabilitation centers in The Netherlands.

Participants

Persons (N=147) aged 18 to 65 and wheelchair-dependent at least for long distances.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

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 (β=.31, P<.05), pain (β=.19, P<.05), and secondary impairments (β=.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.

Key Words: Cohort study, Follow-up studies, Quality of life, Rehabilitation, Spinal cord injuries

List of Abbreviations: AIS, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, ES, effect size, LiSat-9, Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, SCI, spinal cord injury, SWLS, Satisfaction With Life Scale

 

 Supported by the Health Research and Development Council of the Netherlands (grant no. 1435.0003).

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00344-4

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.12.042

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1733-1740, September 2008

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