Abstract
Objective To investigate the relationship between coping resources and the quality of life of paraplegics.Methods Fifty-six paraplegic individuals were recruited to complete a set of self-assessment questionnaires:the Generic Quality of Life Inventory,the Life Events Questionnaire,the Fighting Spirit and Helplessness subscales of the Hopelessness in Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale and Folkman's Ways of Coping Questionnaire.Their answers were used to assess the impact of paraplegia on the activities of daily living,the patients' understanding about paraplegia and their coping strategies.Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to explore how coping resources might predict quality of life.Results Quality of life was the outcome variable in the multiple regression analysis.Only negative life events and coping resources such as uncontrollable cognitive appraisal (helplessness and hopelessness),coping strategies (wishful thinking and seeking support) and support from social forces proved significant in predicting quality of life.Of all the factors,helplessness and hopelessness played the most important roles.Conclusions Coping resources and life events have a greater impact on the quality of life of paraplegics than paraplegia itself.Uncontrollable cognitive appraisals (helplessness and hopelessness) are the most important.Interventions minimizing uncontrolled cognitive appraisals of their condition will be the most effective in improving the quality of life of paraplegic patients. Key words: Paraplegia; Cognitive appraisal; Coping resources ; Life events ; Quality of life
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