A Latent Variable Structural Path Model of Health Behaviors After Spinal Cord Injury

J Spinal Cord Med, 2009 · DOI: · Published: April 1, 2009

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Public Health

Simple Explanation

The study investigates health behaviors in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to understand how these behaviors relate to their characteristics, such as age, injury severity, and education. The researchers used statistical models to identify underlying patterns in health behaviors, grouping them into factors like healthy nutrition, smoking, and alcohol use. By understanding these patterns, the study aims to help tailor interventions and prevention strategies to address specific risks and promote better health outcomes for people with SCI.

Study Duration

At least 1 year

Participants

1,388 adults with traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Seven specific factors were identified: healthy nutrition, unhealthy nutrition, fitness, smoking, alcohol use, psychotropic prescription medications, and SCI healthy activities.
2
Two higher-order dimensions were identified: a risk dimension (unhealthy nutrition, smoking, alcohol use) and a protective dimension (healthy nutrition, fitness, SCI healthy activities).
3
Participants with more severe injuries scored lower on smoking and alcohol use but higher on psychotropic medication use; age was positively correlated with healthy nutrition but negatively correlated with alcohol, tobacco, and fitness.

Research Summary

This study aimed to develop a latent behavioral model by identifying and confirming the factor structure of health behaviors of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their relationships with biographic, injury, and educational characteristics. Latent variable structural equation modeling was used to identify underlying factors and their relationship with participant characteristics. Seven specific factors were identified by exploratory factor analysis and were cross-validated using confirmatory factor analysis. Behaviors can be meaningfully combined into underlying dimensions to more efficiently use them as predictors of secondary conditions.

Practical Implications

Targeted Interventions

Interventions and prevention strategies can be tailored to individuals at the highest risk for specific unhealthy behaviors.

Monitoring Injury Severity

Patterns of risk and protective behaviors must be closely monitored with variations in injury severity.

Gender-Specific Approaches

Interventions targeting risk behaviors, with the exception of prescription medication use, may best be targeted toward men.

Study Limitations

1
All data were self-reported.
2
All data were cross-sectional and correlational, precluding causal interpretations.
3
Other behavioral domains and additional items within the identified domains could be assessed in future research.

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