Relations between coping strategies and health-related quality of life in patients with spinal cord lesion.

• OBJECTIVE: Although the use of appropriate coping strategies has been suggested to be a key factor in determining successful adjustment to severe physical illness/disability, little systematic support for this link has been found. We investigated relationships between spinal cord lesion-related coping strategies and health-related quality of life when studying for sociodemographic, disability-related and social support variables. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: We studied 256 persons with traumatically acquired spinal cord lesion (=1 year) from a typical rural/urban Swedish area in a cross-sectional design. METHODS: Coping measure was the Spinal Cord Lesion-related Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Outcome measures were the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey version 2.0, and a standardized global question of overall quality of life. Multiple regressions were performed. RESULTS: Coping strategies were clear correlates of health-related quality of life when sociodemographic, disability-related and social support variables were studied. The relationship between coping strategies and quality of life was: the more revaluation of life values (Acceptance) and the fewer tendencies towards dependent behaviour (Social reliance) the better the health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that greater focus needs to be directed to coping strategies and to ways of facilitating adaptive outcomes in rehabilitation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi -- Tillämpad psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology -- Applied Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adaptation

Psychological

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Cross-Sectional Studies

Disabled Persons

psychology

rehabilitation

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Quality of Life

Questionnaires

Social Support

Spinal Cord Injuries

etiology

psychology

rehabilitation

spinal cord injuries

quality of life

validation studies

psychometrics

coping behaviour

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)