Perceived injustice after spinal cord injury: evidence for a distinct psychological construct.

Abstract

Study designCross-sectional study.ObjectiveTo identify unique predictors of perceived injustice compared to depression symptoms within the first year after SCI.SettingInpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban region in the Southwestern United States.MethodsA sample of 74 participants with median time since injury of 52 days completed measures of perceived injustice, depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, expected disability, pain intensity, and anger.ResultsThree unique predictors of perceived injustice as compared to depression symptoms were found – time since injury, state anger, and sex. These predictors had significantly different relationships with perceived injustice than with depression symptoms.ConclusionsResults replicate previous findings that perceived injustice is moderately correlated with depression symptoms. However, findings also reveal factors uniquely associated with perceived injustice than with depression symptoms, providing support that these are two separate constructs. Thus, these findings support development of novel interventions targeting perceptions of injustice.SponsorshipThis study was supported by a grant from the Craig Foundation and the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF89).