Leisure repertoire among persons with a spinal cord injury: Interests, performance, and well-being

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000103 · Published: January 1, 2014

Spinal Cord Injury Participation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores how spinal cord injuries (SCI) affect the leisure activities people enjoy and participate in, and how this relates to their overall well-being. It looks at the types of leisure activities people with SCI are interested in, how often they participate in these activities, and how important these activities are for their well-being. The research also investigates whether factors such as sex, age, and time since the injury influence the choice and enjoyment of leisure activities. Understanding these relationships can help healthcare professionals better support people with SCI in finding and engaging in meaningful leisure pursuits. The study highlights that while social and cultural activities, as well as watching TV/DVDs/movies, are commonly enjoyed, changes in outdoor activities, exercise, and gardening are frequently reported after SCI. The findings suggest that personal characteristics may play a more significant role than the level of injury in determining leisure activity preferences.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

97 persons with traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
Participants were mostly interested in, performed, and experienced well-being from social and culture activities and TV/DVD/movies.
2
The areas of leisure activities in which they had most likely experienced changes after the SCI were outdoor activities, exercise, and gardening.
3
Sex, age, and to some extent, time since injury were related to interest, performance, well-being, and changed performance.

Research Summary

This study explored the leisure activities of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and how these activities relate to their interests, performance, and overall well-being. Data was collected via postal surveys from 97 participants recruited through a national organization. The results indicated that social and cultural activities, along with watching TV/DVDs/movies, were the most favored leisure pursuits among participants. Conversely, outdoor activities, exercise, and gardening were identified as areas where participants experienced the most significant changes in their ability to participate after their SCI. The study concludes that factors such as sex, age, and time since injury have a greater influence on the choice of leisure activities than the level of injury itself. This understanding is valuable for rehabilitation professionals in designing and implementing leisure-related interventions for individuals with SCI.

Practical Implications

Targeted Interventions

Rehabilitation programs should consider individual factors like sex, age, and time since injury when designing leisure activity interventions for people with SCI.

Promote Social and Cultural Activities

Encourage participation in social and cultural activities, as these are associated with increased well-being among individuals with SCI.

Address Barriers to Outdoor Activities

Identify and address barriers that prevent individuals with SCI from participating in outdoor activities, exercise, and gardening.

Study Limitations

1
The study's response rate could have influenced the results.
2
Participants were recruited from a non-profit organization, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings.
3
The NPS-interest checklist only provided information about changed performance, not whether the change was perceived as positive or negative.

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