Examination of the Relationships Among Social Networks and Loneliness on Health and Life Satisfaction in People with Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction.

Abstract

To examine the associations among social networks and loneliness on health and life satisfaction in adults with chronic spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D). Cross-sectional telephone survey study. Tertiary spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in Ontario, Canada. Community-dwelling adults with chronic SCI/D (N=170). Not applicable. The main outcome measures were the Short-Form 36 to assess health and the Life Satisfaction-11 to assess life satisfaction. A hierarchical regression model predicting physical health accounted for 24% (P<.001) of the variance. The only social network variable to significantly contribute to the model was having a higher proportion of network members living in one's household (P<.05). A model predicting mental health accounted for 44% (P<.001) of the variance, with having a higher proportion of network members living in one's household (P<.05) and lower feelings of loneliness (P<.001) associated with better mental health. Finally, the model predicting life satisfaction accounted for 62% (P<.001) of the variance, with lower greater levels of social network intimacy (P<.01) and lower feelings of loneliness (P<.001) being significant predictors. These findings highlight the importance of having access to network members in one's home for better physical and mental health after SCI/D as well as the negative association between loneliness and mental health and life satisfaction. There is a need for approaches to ensure that people with SCI/D in the community feel supported to mitigate feelings of loneliness to optimize their health and wellbeing.