Abstract
It has always been understood that those who deal effectively with a disability call upon special resources that members of the able bodied population are not required to develop. However, the nature and relationship of these resources to aging outcomes is as yet only superficially understood. The present study provides further information and clarification about the resources needed for aging with a spinal cord injury. The sample consists of 70 individuals who have had a spinal cord injury for at least 15 years, and who are currently over the age of 45, and are therefore either anticipating or experiencing aging. Data from the sample were examined to produce a model of resources empirically associated with positive outcomes in aging. Emotional support was found to be positively related to the outcomes of life satisfaction, adjustment to disability and the absence of depressive symptomatology. Further, health concerns, financial security and instrumental support were also related to specific outcomes. These findings send a clear message to rehabilitation and community service providers to be watchful of survivors with limited social support, concerns about their health and an apparent lack of financial resources. The findings underline the need for better access to health services, and improved knowledge and attitudes of community health care providers working with older disabled individuals.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Trieschmann R (1987) Aging With a Disability. Demos Publications, New York.
Burns T J, Batavia A I, Smith Q W, DeJong G (1990) Primary health care needs of persons with physical disabilities: What are the resource and service priorities? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 71: 138-43.
Dean A, Kolody B, Wood P (1990) Effects of social support from various sources on depression in elderly persons. J Health Soc Behav 31: 148–161.
Oxman T E, Berkman L F, Kasl S, Freeman D H, Barrett J (1992) Social support and depressive symptoms in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol 135: 356–68.
Fitzpatrick R, Newman S, Archer R, Shipley M (1991) Social support, disability and depression: A longitudinal study of rheumatoid arthritis. Soc Sci Med 33: 605–611.
Wineman N M (1990) Adaptation to multiple sclerosis: The role of social support, functional disability and perceived uncertainty. Nurs Res 39: 294–299.
Cushman L A, Haslett J (1992) Spinal cord injury: Ten and fifteen years after. Paraplegia 30: 690–696.
Siosteen M, Lundqvist C, Blomstrand C, Sullivan L, Sullivan M (1990) The quality of life of three functional spinal cord injury subgroups in a Swedish community. Paraplegia 28: 476–488.
Whiteneck G, Charlifue S, Frankel H L, Fraser M H, Gardner B P, Gerhart K A et al (1992) Mortality, morbidity and psychosocial outcomes of persons with spinal cord injury more than twenty years ago. Paraplegia 30: 617–30.
Eisenberg M G, Saltz C C (1991) Quality of life among spinal cord injured persons: Long-term rehabilitation outcomes. Paraplegia 29: 514–520.
Gerhart K A (1993) Personal perspectives. In: Whiteneck GG, Charlifue SW, Gerhart K et al, editors. Aging with Spinal Cord Injury. Demos Publications, New York.
Krause J S (1992) Longitudinal changes in adjustment after spinal cord injury: A fifteen year study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 73: 564–568.
Krause J S, Crewe N M (1991) Chronological age, time since injury and time of measurement: Effects of adjustment after spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 72: 91–100.
Penning M J (1990) Receipt of assistance by elderly people: Heirarchical selection and task specificity. Gerontologist 31: 220–227.
Grant I, Patterson T L, Yager J (1988) Social support in relation to physical health and symptoms of depression in the elderly. Am J Psychiatry 145: 1254–58.
Schulz R, Decker S (1985) Long-term adjustment to physical disability: The role of social support, perceived control, and self-blame. J Pers Soc Psychol 48: 1162–1172.
Brillhart B (1988) Family support for the disabled. Rehabil Nurs 13: 316–319.
Radloff L S (1977) The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Measure 1: 385–401.
McColl M A, Skinner H A (in press) Measuring inter- and intra-personal resources for community living with a disability. Disabil Rehabil.
Noh S, Posthuma B (1990) Physical disability and depression: A methodological consideration. Can J Occup Ther 87: 9–15.
Christensen A J, Turner C W, Slaughter O R, Holman J M (1989) Perceived family support as a moderator of well-being in end-stage renal disease. J Behav Med 12: 249–265.
Michalos A (1980) Satisfaction and happiness. Soc Indicators Res 8: 385–422.
Michalos A (1985) Multiple discrepancies theory. Soc Indicators Res 16: 347–413.
Bergner M, Bobbitt R A, Kressel S, Pollard W E, Gilson B S, Morris J R (1976) The Sickness Impact Profile: Conceptual formulation and methodology for the development of a health status measure. Int J Health Serv 6: 393–415.
Bergner M, Bobbitt R A, Carter W B, Gilson B S (1981) The Sickness Impact Profile: Development and final revision of a health status measure. Med Care 19: 787–805.
Augustinsson L E, Sullivan L, Sullivan M (1986) Physical, psychological, and social function in chronic pain patients after epidural spinal electrical stimulation. Spine 11; 111–119.
Deyo R A, Diehl A K (1983) Measuring physical and psychosocial function in patients with low-back pain. Spine 8: 635–642.
Lundqvist C, Siösteen A, Blomstrand C, Lind B, Sullivan M (1991) Spinal cord injuries: Clinical, functional, and emotional status. Spine 16: 78–83.
Feather N T (1989) Financial Stress Scale. In: Feather NT, editor. The Psychological Impact of Unemployment. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Keith R A, Granger C V, Hamilton B B, Sherwin F S (1987) The Functional Independence Measure: A new tool for rehabilitation. In: Eisenberg MD, Grzesiak RC, editors. Advances in Clinical Rehabilitation. Springer, New York.
Chappell N, Strain L, Badger M (1988) Self-care in health and illness. Compr Gerontology 2: 92–101.
Cohen S, Mermelstein R, Kamarck T, Hoberman H M (1985) Measuring the functional components of social support. In: Sarason IG, Sarason BR, editors. Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications. Martinus Nijhoff, Boston.
McColl M A, Skinner H A (1988) Concepts and measurement of social support in a rehabilitation setting. Can J Rehabil 2: 93–107.
Friedland J, McColl M A (1992) Social support intervention after stroke: Results of a randomized trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 73: 573–81.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McColl, M., Rosenthal, C. A model of resource needs of aging spinal cord injured men. Spinal Cord 32, 261–270 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1994.46
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1994.46
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
The Impact of Perceptions of Health Control and Coping Modes on Negative Affect Among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries
Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings (2011)