THE INFLUENCE OF SPINAL-CORD INJURY ON COPING STYLES AND SELF-PERCEPTIONS 2 YEARS AFTER THE INJURY

This study is a two year follow-up of previous longitudinal research w hich investigated the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) on perceptio ns of control, self-esteem and coping styles over the first year of SC I. Persons with SCI and a demographically matched able-bodied control group completed standardised questionnaires on four occasions over two years. The instruments included the Locus of Control of Behaviour Sca le (LCB), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and an adapted Mental Adjustm ent to Cancer Scale (MAC), which measures coping styles, including fig hting spirit, helplessness/hopelessness and fatalism. Results obtained in the first year were replicated in the two year data, except for th e LCB Scale. After one year, the SCI group were found to perceive thei r life to be externally controlled, to be lower in self-esteem, and ha ve more helpless/hopeless and fatalistic attitudes than the controls. There were no differences in self esteem and coping styles after two y ears for the SCI group. However, locus of control fluctuated over the two years, though there was a trend for the SCI group to be more exter nally focussed. There were no significant interactions between group a nd time. Implications for the adjustment of SCI persons are discussed.