Do risk perceptions explain sex differences in community integration and participation after spinal cord injury?

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000146 · Published: January 1, 2014

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Public Health

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how men and women with spinal cord injuries perceive risks in everyday activities and whether these perceptions affect their community integration and participation. The researchers found that women tend to perceive more risks than men, which is associated with lower community integration and participation levels for women. The study suggests that addressing these risk perceptions, especially for women, could help improve their community integration and overall quality of life after a spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

140 community-dwelling white and African-American men and women with SCI

Evidence Level

Cohort study

Key Findings

1
Women with SCI perceived more dangers on every item on the RISCI Scale compared to men.
2
Higher RISCI scores among women with SCI were associated with lower community integration and participation.
3
For men with SCI, RISCI scores were mainly unrelated to participation measures, except for community integration.

Research Summary

The study examined sex differences in risk perceptions among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their relationship to community integration and participation. Women with SCI reported higher risk perceptions compared to men, which negatively impacted their community integration and participation levels. The findings suggest the need for rehabilitation professionals to address risk perceptions, particularly among women with SCI, to enhance their community integration and overall quality of life.

Practical Implications

Refine Rehabilitation Practices

Rehabilitation professionals should identify and respond to differences in how men and women with SCI perceive risk in everyday activities.

Address Social and Physical Vulnerability

Therapists must be attentive to women who rate RISCI activities as dangerous and assess how this relates to issues of social and physical vulnerability impacting community participation.

Enhance Community Outreach

Community outreach programs should consider sex issues and psychological traits to improve women's participation in community activities.

Study Limitations

1
The sample size is relatively small, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
2
The correlational data analysis does not establish causality between risk perceptions and community participation.
3
The study did not provide a specific definition of community participation to participants, potentially leading to varying interpretations.

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