Factors associated with life satisfaction among a sample of persons with neurotrauma

Factors were examined that are associated with life satisfaction one year post-discharge for persons with a spinal cord (SCI) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Findings show persons with SCI or TBI should be considered as two distinct groups with regard to factors affecting life satisfaction. Different strategies might be considered to affect either group. Three psychosocial variables significantly increased life satisfaction for persons with SCI: closeness to family, the level of family activities, and blaming oneself for the injury. For persons with TBI, total family satisfaction, blaming oneself for the injury, being employed, being married, and having memory and bowel independence significantly increased life satisfaction. For persons with TBI, there was a difference in the number of factors affecting life satisfaction dependent on whether the persons blamed themselves or not. Those who do not blame themselves show a greater number of functional activities as indicators for their self-satisfaction.