SOCIAL SUPPORT AND HEALTH-STATUS IN SPINAL-CORD INJURY

In a mailed survey, 125 persons with spinal cord injury responded to q uestions on the SCI Quality of Life Index (QOLI), and the Reciprocal S ocial Support Scale. The results indicated that people with SCI who be lieve that they receive support from the community, compared to those who believed they received less support (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer heal th problems (fewer spinal cysts, lower blood pres-sure, shorter recove ry time from decubitus ulcers, less pain below the level of injury, an d fewer hospital admissions). The results also showed that people who believe that they contribute to the community in some way, compared to those who believed they contributed little or nothing (1) perceived t hemselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significa ntly fewer health problems (fewer urinary tract infections, fewer decu bitus ulcers, less severe decubiti, less pain above the level of injur y, and fewer hospital admissions). A community support score, a summar y score of support given and received, was also related to adjustment and health.