Adaptation Process in Women with Spinal Cord Injury: The Relationship between Psychological and Socio-demographic Variables

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this research is to examine the psychological reaction of 44 women with SCI during their process of adaptation to spinal cord injury, specifically with regard to coping strategies, motivation, performance anxiety, neuroticism, extraversion, depression and the possible relationship between these variables and others of a socio-demographic nature. Method: this is a correlational study with cross design strategy and evaluation. The selection process was carried out through health centers and associations of people with disabilities. A total of 44 women with LM participated, mostly resident in Principality of Asturias (54.5%) and Basque Country (40.9%), although they have a small representation of women from Valladolid (4.5 %). Results: The significant differences that were found show the highest scores on the depression scale pertain to women who are married and have less schooling. Moreover, the data from the study reflect the existence of individualized processes of adaptation with highly random functioning in terms of the socio-demographic variables, thereby supporting the assumptions on the model of individual differences in the process of adaptation to spinal cord injury. Conclusion: They also suggest therapeutic processes must be sensitive to the appearance of feelings of hopelessness and depression in women with spinal cord injury.