• P Kennedy, P Lude, M L Elfström, and E Smithson.
• Isis Education Centre, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, UK. paul.kennedy@hmc.ox.ac.uk
• Br J Health Psychol. 2010 Sep 1;15(Pt 3):611-21.

Study DesignLongitudinal, multi-wave design.ObjectivesTo investigate the contribution of sense of coherence (SOC), appraisals, and behavioural responses when predicting psychological outcomes to spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodPatients (N=237) sustaining a SCI aged 17 or above were recruited from specialist spinal injuries centres across six European countries. Measures of SOC, appraisals, coping strategies, and psychological well-being were administered at 6 and 12 weeks post-injury and at a 1 year follow-up.ResultsPeople scoring high on SOC at 6 weeks post-injury showed significantly better psychological outcomes at 1 year post-injury and SOC showed significant relationships with appraisals at 12 weeks post-injury and coping strategies 1 year post-injury. Significant relationships were found between appraisals at 12 weeks post-injury and psychological outcomes, adaptive coping strategies were significantly related to psychological well-being at 1 year post-injury. Regression analyses found SOC, appraisals, and coping behaviours to explain 61.8% of the variance in psychological quality of life, 66.5% of the variance in depression, and 37.7% of the variance in anxiety at 1 year post-injury.ConclusionThis study provides further evidence in support of previous findings which suggest SOC to have a primary role in long-term psychological well-being. The relationship described here - from SOC to the appraisal of injury and subsequent behavioural responses - suggests SOC to be an influential factor in the long-term adjustment of people with SCI.

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