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Changes in life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury during and after inpatient rehabilitation: adaptation or measurement bias?

Abstract

Purpose  

To analyze changes in life satisfaction (LS) scores over time in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to interpret what
these changes mean.

Methods  

Multicenter, prospective cohort study of persons with SCI (n = 96) classified into 3 life satisfaction trajectories identified earlier. Assessment took place 6 times from the start of
active rehabilitation up to 5 years after discharge. Three LS scores were compared: (1) LS ‘now’ score, (2) ‘comparison’ score
between LS ‘now’ and LS ‘before the SCI’, and (3) retrospective score of LS ‘before the SCI’.

Results  

Persons in the low LS trajectory showed increase in the LS ‘now’ score, but not in the LS ‘comparison’ score and retrospective
score. Persons in the recovery trajectory showed increase in the LS ‘now’ and LS ‘comparison’ scores, but not in the retrospective
score. Persons in the high LS trajectory showed increase in the ‘comparison’ LS score and decrease in the retrospective score,
but no change in the LS ‘now’ score.

Conclusions  

Diverging patterns of change were found and that were interpreted as adaptation or scale recalibration. Recalibration could
also be considered healthy rebalancing after SCI. Being able to compare different LS ratings can facilitate the interpretation
of change in and stability of LS.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Pages 1-10
  • DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-0073-7
  • Authors
    • Christel M. C. van Leeuwen, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Marcel W. M. Post, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Lucas H. V. van der Woude, Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Sonja de Groot, Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Christof Smit, Reade, Centre for Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Dirk van Kuppevelt, Rehabilitation Center Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    • Eline Lindeman, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands