Search

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data., Objectives: To verify the factor structure of the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) using a sample of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess IEQ scale reliability and construct validity using the same population., Setting: Two SCI rehabilitation sites in the United States., Methods: Three datasets were combined to conduct this validation study. The sample consisted of 341 adults with SCI who completed the IEQ, measures of psychological distress and pain, and provided sociodemographic and injury-related information. A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted to verify the two-factor structure of the IEQ, Cronbach's alpha was used to demonstrate scale reliability, and correlations between the IEQ and measures of pain and psychological distress were examined to assess construct validity., Results: Poor model fit was observed for the two-factor structure of the IEQ as well as for the subsequent factor-structures that were explored. The IEQ demonstrated strong scale reliability (α = 0.89) and correlations between the IEQ and measures of pain and psychological distress were in the expected direction, indicating good construct validity., Conclusions: In this preliminary validation study, we failed to confirm the two-factor structure of the IEQ in a population of individuals with SCI. Though good scale reliability and construct validity were observed, further study is needed to refine the IEQ for use in this population., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.)

Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Objective: To identify unique predictors of perceived injustice compared with depression symptoms within the first year after SCI., Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban region in the Southwestern United States., Methods: A sample of 74 participants with median time since injury of 52 days completed measures of perceived injustice, depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, expected disability, pain intensity, and anger., Results: Three unique predictors of perceived injustice as compared with depression symptoms were found-time since injury, state anger, and sex. These predictors had significantly different relationships with perceived injustice than with depression symptoms., Conclusions: Results replicate previous findings that perceived injustice is moderately correlated with depression symptoms. However, findings also reveal factors uniquely associated with perceived injustice than with depression symptoms, providing support that these are two separate constructs. Thus, these findings support development of novel interventions targeting perceptions of injustice.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving completion of self-report measures., Objectives: Individuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) face numerous physical and psychological challenges, with the former receiving considerable less attention during the rehabilitation process. In this article, we examined event centrality as a unique predictor of psychological outcomes in a sample of individuals receiving rehabilitation for SCI. Event centrality refers to the extent to which individuals construe a stressful experience as a core part of their identity. In samples of individuals exposed to psychological traumas (for example, sexual assault or military combat), event centrality has emerged as a consistent and powerful predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). This is the first study to examine event centrality in an SCI sample., Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban city in the Southwestern United States., Methods: A sample of 55 participants in rehabilitation for a recent SCI completed measures of event centrality, PTSS, depressed mood and perceived disability., Results: Event centrality was significantly related to perceived disability (r=0.48) and PTSS (r=0.31) and accounted for unique variance in these two outcomes after controlling for demographics and depressed mood., Conclusion: Event centrality is common among individuals with SCI and may be a unique contributor to worse psychological and functional outcomes. We hope our findings will alert health-care professionals to the importance of event centrality., Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant from the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF89).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study design involving completion of self-report measures., Objective: To investigate the relationship between perceived injustice, post-traumatic stress symptoms and depression in a sample of individuals receiving inpatient rehabilitation care following hospitalization for acute spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as the mediating role of anger variables., Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban city in the Southwestern United States., Methods: A sample of 53 participants with an average of 204.51 days (s.d.=410.67, median=56) post injury occurrence completed measures of perceived injustice, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as measures of trait anger, state anger, anger inhibition and anger expression., Results: Perceived injustice was significantly correlated with depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and accounted for unique variance in depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms when controlling for demographic and injury-related variables. Anger inhibition was found to mediate the relationship between perceived injustice and depression. Trait anger and anger expression were found to mediate the relationship between perceived injustice and post-traumatic stress symptoms., Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, perceived injustice was associated with greater depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The results support previous findings that anger inhibition mediates between perceived injustice and depression, and provides novel findings regarding mediation of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results provide preliminary evidence for the role of perceived injustice in SCI and potential mechanisms by which it may exert its effects.

Study Design: Qualitative research design involving semi-structured focus groups., Objectives: To increase current understanding of how persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) define resilience and what factors contribute to their resilience or the resilience of others., Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban city in the Southwestern United States., Methods: A convenience sample of 28 participants (14 current patients; 14 former patients) participated in semi-structured focus groups led by the research investigators., Results: Through a constant comparative analysis of the data, six themes emerged in participants' responses regarding what they believed contributed to their own resilience in adapting to SCI. The six themes included psychological strength, social support, perspective, adaptive coping, spirituality or faith, and serving as a role model or inspiring others., Conclusion: Consistent with previous research findings, individuals with SCI identified positive thinking (for example, optimism, hope and positive attitude), perseverance and determination, and social support from friends and family as important contributors to their ability to adapt in spite of experiencing traumatic events that resulted in SCI. Findings provide richness and depth to current empirical conceptualizations of resilience.