Traumatic Brain Injury vs. Spinal Cord Injury: Life Satisfaction Appears the Same

Past Studies

Past Studies show that traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury can affect the way that individuals think, feel, act, and move their bodies. Changes in body function can impact an individual’s self-perception or subjective well-being. Subjective well-being refers to the difference between an individual’s actual circumstances and what that person thinks the circumstances should be. Subjective well-being is based on the individual’s opinion rather than on clinical test scores. Recent researchers consider subjective well-being as an important part of life satisfaction for individuals who have completed rehabilitation. Past studies are limited and inconsistent about the level of life satisfaction reported by individuals with traumatic brain injury compared to individuals with spinal cord injury. Few studies have analyzed outcomes of individuals with traumatic brain injury versus spinal cord injury.

This Study

This study looked at data for 190 individuals with spinal cord injury and 57 individuals with traumatic brain injury. The researchers compared the two group’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Functional Impairment Measure (FIM) scores recorded at one-year following injury. The SWLS measures satisfaction with life based on the individual’s viewpoint. The FIM rates, records, and measures an individual’s ability to perform daily living activities. The FIM score is based on the clinician’s observation of the individual performing the tasks.

Overall, individuals with traumatic brain injury and individuals with spinal cord injury reported similar levels of life satisfaction. The researchers found that increased physical disability was the only factor associated with decreased life satisfaction for both groups. Marital status was associated with an increased life satisfaction for individuals with traumatic brain injury. No other factors were predictive of life satisfaction between the two groups.

Who May Be Affected By These Findings

Individuals with traumatic brain injury, individuals with spinal cord injury, health care providers, researchers.

Caveats

This study used a small number of individuals from one area of the country. A similar study that used a large number of individuals from various locations would provide results that could be applied across the country.

Bottom Line

In this study, individuals with traumatic brain injury and individuals with spinal cord injury reported similar levels of life satisfaction at one-year following their injury.

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