Perceived control and health-promoting behaviors as predictors of life satisfaction and well-being outcomes of women with long-term spinal cord injury

Forty women with long-term SCI, living in the community, were randomly selected to investigate the relationship between personal control of lifestyle and adjustment to rehabilitation. Utilizing the Nunchuck Interpersonal Human Potential Model for Nursing (NIHPM) a study was designed to demonstrate that perceived control and health-promoting behaviors could predict life satisfaction and well-being outcomes. A cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive design was utilized to identify significant physiologic and psychosocial parameters and behaviors used by long-term spinal cord injured women. Additionally, the study was designed to estimate the relationship of predictor to outcome variables.

Subjects completed a demographic data sheet, structured interview, physical examination including breast and gynecologic exam, and six self-report scales; a researcher designed Perceived Control Questionnaire, Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile, Life Satisfaction Index-A, Index of Psychological Well-being, Perceived Stress Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; bivariate statistics of the demographic, physiologic, and psychosocial parameters, correlates of spinal cord injury, and a multivariate statistical model consisting of multiple regression, canonical correlations, and multiple analysis of covariance.

There were significant findings (p .05) among the demographic variables of education, race, income, age, level and completeness of injury, etiology of injury, marital status, weight, and pulse. Bivariate analyses among the breast exam score and health-promoting lifestyle profile (p .05) and perceived control, perceived stress and symptoms of depression were significant (p .01) as related to age and race. Perceived control and health-promoting behaviors, as isolated by multivariate analyses, significantly contributed (67%) to life satisfaction and ($<$40%) to psychological well-being. Due to the statistical significance of these variables as predictors of the outcome variables, their effects were held constant to evaluate the effects of age, race, and income as related to life satisfaction and well-being. The results supported the hypothesis that a significant direct relationship exists between perceived control and health-promoting behaviors as predictors of life satisfaction and well-being outcomes in women with long-term spinal cord injury irrespective of age, race, or income.