Girls with spinal cord injury: social and job-related participation and psychosocial outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To examine social and job-related participation among girls with spinal cord injury (SCI) and relationships between participation, depression, and quality of life.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This sample included 97 girls (aged 7-17 years) who had sustained SCI at least 1 year prior to interview, and who were receiving care at three pediatric SCI centers within a single hospital system.

MEASURES

Participants completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, Children's Depression Inventory, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Caregivers completed a demographics form.

RESULTS

Girls participated more often in social activities than in job-related activities and participated in social activities with a more diverse group and further from home. A broader context of social participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life. Higher frequency of job-related participation was related to lower depression, which in turn was related to higher quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Social and job-related participation are related to psychosocial outcomes among girls with SCI. Participation in social and job-related activities should be a focus of rehabilitation for girls, because the skills gained from this involvement may help build resilience against future obstacles to socialization and employment.