Community integration and quality of life comparisons among spinal cord injured, support provider, and comparative samples

Abstract

This large cross-sectional survey study compared the community integration and quality of life of support providers (n = 100) with those of individuals with a spinal cord injury (n = 100) as well as those of a non-SCI, non-support-provider sample from the general population (n = 102). Variables quantitatively examined were locus of control, environmental facilitators and barriers, productivity status, community integration, and quality of life. ANOVA and regression analysis confirmed the research hypotheses that support providers would have higher scores on the study variables than persons with SCI but would have lower scores than the comparative sample, demonstrating the impact of this role on the individual. © 2005 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.