Family functioning of people with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury results in sensory and motor limitations and makes people dependent on their families, interfering with their autonomy and independence. This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted to identify cohesion, adaptability, flexibility and family functioning of people with spinal cord injury in three cities of Florianópolis, using the family APGAR and Olson scales. The sample consisted of 45 people belonging to the age group of 14-82 years, 64.5% male and 35.5% female; 67.7% with female caregivers and, of these, 32.2% were mothers. Despite the difficulties encountered with the injury, most families showed good functioning (61.4%) with 16.1% to 22.5% severe and mild dysfunction, with balanced cohesion and flexibility, which were not related to the presence of low satisfaction and communication. The selected tools, applied together, proved suitable.