Pain, Mental Health, Life Satisfaction, and Understanding From Others in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury

Rehabil Psychol, 2022 · DOI: 10.1037/rep0000430 · Published: August 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Pain Management

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the relationships between pain, mental health, life satisfaction, and how well veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI) feel understood by others. The study found that greater pain and less understanding from others were associated with worse mental health and lower life satisfaction in veterans with SCI. The research suggests that helping veterans with SCI feel more understood could improve their mental health and overall life satisfaction.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

221 individuals with SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Pain was significantly associated with increased mental health symptom severity in veterans with SCI.
2
Understanding from others was significantly associated with decreased mental health symptom severity and increased life satisfaction.
3
There was a marginally significant interaction effect between pain and understanding from others on mental health symptom severity.

Research Summary

This study examined the relationships among pain, mental health symptom severity, life satisfaction, and understanding from others in veterans with SCI. The findings indicated that pain and understanding from others are significantly associated with both mental health and life satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of interventions targeting pain management and fostering understanding from others to improve the well-being of veterans with SCI.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Rehabilitation clinicians should assess the degree to which individuals with SCI receive empathic and understanding responses from important people in their lives.

Caregiver Training

Incorporate exercises and training modules designed to help caregivers communicate empathy, understanding, and validation.

Healthcare Staff Education

Health care facilities may introduce or expand training for staff that increases knowledge of SCI and helps facilitate empathic and caring interactions with individuals with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Cross-sectional data limits causal interpretations.
2
It may have been unclear for participants whether they were asked to endorse the degree they felt understood by others.
3
Use of single-item measures rather than psychometrically established scales.

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