Influence of race/ethnicity on divorce/separation 1, 2, and 5 years post spinal cord injury

(1) To compare the proportions of divorce/separation between races/ethnicities at 1, 2, and 5 years post spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) to examine changes in proportions of divorce/separation over time within each race/ethnicity group; and (3) to compare the changes in proportions of divorce/separation over time between races/ethnicities.

Retrospective study.

Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems.

A sample of participants married preinjury (N=1528; 1108 whites, 258 blacks, 162 Hispanics) was selected from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center database from 1988 to 1998.

Not applicable.

Proportion of separation/divorce at 1, 2, and 5 years postinjury for each race/ethnic group.

At all postinjury years (1, 2, 5y), blacks had significantly greater odds of divorce/separation versus staying married than Hispanics. In addition, whites had significantly greater odds of divorce/separation versus staying married compared with Hispanics at 1 and 2 years postinjury. People with SCI of all races/ethnicities showed significantly greater increases in the odds of divorce/separation versus staying married over time (1-2, 2-5, 1-5y postinjury). Although there was evidence that the races/ethnicities were significantly different at each postinjury year, and that each race/ethnicity showed significant increases in the proportion of divorce/separation over time, there was no indication that the increases in the divorce/separation over time were significantly different among the race/ethnic groups.

Family therapists and rehabilitation professionals should work together to reduce the separation and divorce rates in all subjects with SCI, with special attention paid to meeting the specific needs of those with minority backgrounds.