An Examination of the Relationships among Social Networks and Loneliness on Health and Life Satisfaction in People with Spinal Cord Injury / Dysfunction.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo examine the associations among social networks and loneliness on health and life satisfaction in adults with chronic spinal cord injury / dysfunction (SCI/D).\n\n\nDESIGN\nCross-sectional telephone survey study.\n\n\nSETTING\nTertiary SCI rehabilitation centre. Ontario, Canada.\n\n\nPARTICIPANTS\nCommunity-dwelling adults with chronic SCI/D (N=170).\n\n\nINTERVENTION\nNot applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) to assess health and the Life Satisfaction-11 (LiSAT-11) to assess life satisfaction.\n\n\nRESULTS\nA hierarchical regression model predicting physical health accounted for 24% (p<.001) of the variance. The only social network variable to significantly contribute to the model was having a higher proportion of family members living in one s household (p<.05). A model predicting mental health accounted for 44% (p<.001) of the variance, with having a higher proportion of family members living in one s household (p<.05) and lower feelings of loneliness (p<.001) being associated with better mental health. Finally, the model predicting life satisfaction accounted for 62% (p<.001) of the variance, with lower greater levels of social network intimacy (p<.01) and lower feelings of loneliness (p<.001) being significant predictors.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThese findings highlight the importance of having access to family members in one s home for better physical and mental health post-SCI/D as well as the negative association between loneliness and mental health and life satisfaction. There is a need for approaches to ensure that people with SCI/D in the community feel supported to mitigate feelings of loneliness in order to optimize their health and wellbeing.