Long-term adjustment of families of children with spinal cord injury

Abstract

We examined the long-term adaptation of families of children with spinal cord injury as a function of multiple factors, including caregiver emotional well-being, and child functional status and emotional well-being. Forty-six caregivers of children who received inpatient rehabilitation services 1 to 10 years earlier at a rehabilitation hospital in the US participated in an interview. Children who were more independent had caregivers with less parenting stress. Children with more emotional problems negatively affected the emotional well-being of caregivers. The caregiver's educational level and family income were negatively associated with child adaptation, which in turn affected the psychological well-being of the caregivers.