Social support and health status in spinal cord injury.

In a mailed survey, 125 persons with spinal cord injury responded to questions on the SCI Quality of Life Index (QOLI), and the Reciprocal Social Support Scale. The results indicated that people with SCI who believe that they receive support from the community, compared to those who believed they received less support (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer spinal cysts, lower blood pressure, shorter recovery time from decubitus ulcers, less pain below the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions). The results also showed that people who believe that they contribute to the community in some way, compared to those who believed they contributed little or nothing (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer urinary tract infections, fewer decubitus ulcers, less severe decubiti, less pain above the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions). A community support score, a summary score of support given and received, was also related to adjustment and health.