Article

Prospective cohort design of married persons with new spinal cord
injury (SCI). OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship of demographic and injury
characteristics, self-rated health, physical functioning, and life satisfaction
to the duration of marriage 1 to 15 years after SCI among individuals who were
married at the time of injury. SETTING: United States. METHODS: Survival analysis
was chosen to determine the predictors related to marital longevity, which is
defined as non-occurrence of divorce after injury. In all, 2327 subjects were
included in the analyses. Predictors were demographics and injury
characteristics, level of handicap, self-perceived health, and functional
independence. RESULTS: Age at injury, being Caucasian vs African American, having
a college education vs high school, having 'other' employment status vs being
unemployed, having higher social integration and improved or stable self-rated
health vs poor health were all significant factors that delayed the time of
divorce after injury. Contrary to expectations, level of injury, function,
mobility and independence were not significant predictors of marriage longevity.
CONCLUSION: Social integration and health perception, the most powerful
indicators of marriage longevity, can be addressed and facilitated by health care
providers and rehabilitation programs.

Langue : ANGLAIS