Pain and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Emotional Support and Social Participation in Adults with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury

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Description

Individuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) during their pediatric years are unique from individuals who acquire an SCI during adulthood due to the heightened risks for developing secondary health conditions and chronic pain. These concerns may significantly impede developmental milestones... Show moreIndividuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) during their pediatric years are unique from individuals who acquire an SCI during adulthood due to the heightened risks for developing secondary health conditions and chronic pain. These concerns may significantly impede developmental milestones and experiences, such as social participation, that may decrease life satisfaction. Thus, research on pain characteristics (e.g., frequency of pain, duration of pain, level of current pain, and level of general pain) alongside the role of emotional support and social participation on life satisfaction in adults with pediatric-onset SCI is needed. This study sample consisted of 205 individuals with pediatric-onset SCI who were former patients at pediatric hospitals in three metropolitan cities. Participants were individuals who were 19 years of age or older at the time of the interview, with the age of injury at 18 years or prior. Associations between demographic, pain, and injury characteristics, emotional support, social participation, and life satisfaction were assessed via bivariate Pearson correlations and a 3-block hierarchical multiple linear regression with LS as the primary outcome. Although pain characteristics and emotional support were not associated with life satisfaction among adults who sustained a pediatric-onset SCI, social participation was positively associated with life satisfaction. These findings suggest that clinicians should evaluate various pain characteristics and highlight the role of social participation when treating individuals with SCI. Show less

Details
Department

PSYC / Psychology

Title

Pain and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Emotional Support and Social Participation in Adults with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury

Institution

Illinois Institute of Technology

Creator(s)

Oh, Alison J.

Advisor(s)

Lee, Eun-Jeong

Date

2023

Description

Individuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) during their pediatric years are unique from individuals who acquire an SCI during adulthood due to the heightened risks for developing secondary... Show moreIndividuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) during their pediatric years are unique from individuals who acquire an SCI during adulthood due to the heightened risks for developing secondary health conditions and chronic pain. These concerns may significantly impede developmental milestones and experiences, such as social participation, that may decrease life satisfaction. Thus, research on pain characteristics (e.g., frequency of pain, duration of pain, level of current pain, and level of general pain) alongside the role of emotional support and social participation on life satisfaction in adults with pediatric-onset SCI is needed. This study sample consisted of 205 individuals with pediatric-onset SCI who were former patients at pediatric hospitals in three metropolitan cities. Participants were individuals who were 19 years of age or older at the time of the interview, with the age of injury at 18 years or prior. Associations between demographic, pain, and injury characteristics, emotional support, social participation, and life satisfaction were assessed via bivariate Pearson correlations and a 3-block hierarchical multiple linear regression with LS as the primary outcome. Although pain characteristics and emotional support were not associated with life satisfaction among adults who sustained a pediatric-onset SCI, social participation was positively associated with life satisfaction. These findings suggest that clinicians should evaluate various pain characteristics and highlight the role of social participation when treating individuals with SCI. Show less

Type

Thesis

File type

application/pdf

Subject

Clinical psychology
Emotional support
Life satisfaction
Pain
Pediatric-onset
Social participation
Spinal cord injury

Access

Restricted Access

Rights

In Copyright
http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10560/islandora:1024335

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