WORK, NONWORK AND CONSEQUENT SATISFACTION AFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY

This study examines the effect of a certain number of factors on the r esumption of working life after a spinal cord injury, in a population of 277 people of working age. The effect of a number of socioeconomic variables, the degree of social support and the age at the time of imp airment are examined. Particular attention is paid to satisfaction in work for those who are active, and satisfaction in not working for tho se who are not. The results confirm certain effects which have already been observed: a high educational level and a handicap acquired early in life increase the probability of a working life. They also show th at, while those who are active tend to be satisfied with their work, a nd those who are inactive dissatisfied at not working, the satisfactio n at not working nevertheless increases with educational level. The au thors question a policy aimed at systematic resumption of working life , and suggest that rehabilitation strategies should incorporate recogn ition of the value of not working.