The influence of spinal cord injury on coping styles and self-perceptions two years after the injury

This study is a two year follow-up of previous longitudinal research which investigated the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) on perceptions of control, self-esteem and coping styles over the first year of SCI. Persons with SCI and a demographically matched able-bodied control group completed standardised questionnaires on four occasions over two years. The instruments included the Locus of Control of Behaviour Scale (LCB), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and an adapted Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC), which measures coping styles, including fighting spirit, helplessness/hopelessness and fatalism. Results obtained in the first year were replicated in the two year data, except for the LCB Scale. After one year, the SCI group were found to perceive their life to be externally controlled, to be lower in self-esteem, and have more helpless/hopeless and fatalistic attitudes than the controls. There were no differences in self esteem and coping styles after two years for the SCI group. However, locus of control fluctuated over the two years, though there was a trend for the SCI group to be more externally focussed. There were no significant interactions between group and time. Implications for the adjustment of SCI persons are discussed.