Aging after spinal cord injury: A 30-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study investigated changes in life satisfaction, general health, activities, and adjustment over 3 decades among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

PARTICIPANTS

The cohort of participants was identified from outpatient records of a large Midwestern United States university hospital. In 1973, 256 individuals completed an initial survey. There were 5 subsequent follow-up surveys, with the most recent being in 2002. Seventy-eight participants completed materials on all 6 occasions.

METHODS

The Life Situation Questionnaire was used to identify changes over the 30-year period in 6 areas of life satisfaction, self-rated adjustment (current and predicted), employment status, activities, and medical treatments.

ANALYSES

These analyses used data from 3 points in time, separated by approximately 15-year intervals. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to identify changes in outcomes between 1973, 1988, and 2002 for all continuous variables.

RESULTS

We found a mixed pattern of changes over the 30 years, with increases noted during the first 15-year period in sitting tolerance, educational and employment outcomes, satisfaction with employment, and adjustment. Although these changes tended to remain stable during the last 15 years, subtle declines were suggested in some areas, with clear declines noted in terms of diminished sitting tolerance, an increase in the number of physician visits, and decreased satisfaction with social life and sex life.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that many positive changes occur within the first 2 decades after SCI, followed by a period of stability in some life areas, but decline with aging in some participation and health-related aspects of life.