Ageing with spinal cord injury

A Longitudinal Study

Bibliographic Data

ID7146328
AuthorsHaoai Zhao (0000-0002-8030-931X, Indiana University Bloomington, corresponding author), Shu Cole (0000-0002-8540-5618, Indiana University Bloomington), Karo Omodior (Indiana University Bloomington), Dubravka Svetina Valdivia, Dubravka Svetina (0000-0003-3286-3540, Indiana University Bloomington)
Year2025
Volume45
Issue6
Pages1187-1209
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x24000084
OpenAlexW4394571764
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited77

Limited studies have evaluated the impact of recreation on successful ageing (SA) for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in a longitudinal manner. Most existing SA models emphasise biomedical-based dimensions of physical functioning, which has been criticised as unrealistic and limited, especially for people with disabilities. Various researchers and organisations have proposed that SA needs to be reassessed using more self-perceived, self-reported measurements. Understanding long-term life satisfaction predictors for individuals ageing with SCI is still limited, particularly when including longitudinal recreation participation data. This study, based on Rowe and Kahn's SA model and utilising self-reported measurements, observes the long-term changes in self-reported health status, recreation participation time and social integration levels, and evaluates the long-term impacts of these predictors on life satisfaction among individuals with SCI. The sample comprises individuals with SCI (N = 11,450) who are at least 45 years old at the time of injury or have lived with their injury for over 15 years. Results indicate that when ageing with SCI, life satisfaction increases over time, but their recreation time, social interactions and self-perceived health status decline. Moreover, regular participation in recreational activities, engagement in and maintenance of certain levels of social relationships, and high self-evaluation of health can positively impact life satisfaction during ageing. The study explores the feasibility of using self-perceived measurements to replace biomedical-based variables in Rowe and Kahn's SA model and examines their impacts on life satisfaction among people ageing with disabilities. In the future development of SA models, researchers can incorporate more self-reported, self-evaluated assessment variables to better capture the ageing experience, especially for people with disabilities

Ageing · Longitudinal study · Pathology · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Spinal cord · Spinal cord injury · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Neuroscience · Older Adults Driving Studies · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access