ABSTRACT

This study was to explore how people with spinal cord injury perceived changes in physical and psychological states as well as social engagement while they were are aging. The study participants were 38 community-dwelling people with spinal cord injury between the ages of 40 and 77 years. Data were collected through an semi-structured interview of about a two-hour session per participant classified by domain analysis of Spradley (1980). Results showed that changes in physical states were classified into 8 categories of ‘decline in physical strength and muscle function that threats control of life’, ‘getting worse in pressure ulcers’, ‘restricted range of motion by muscle stiffness’, ‘urinary disorders by accumulated urine’, ‘new pain after chronic pain’, ‘unexplained severe chronic pain’, ‘overused arm pain’, and ‘regular workouts for pain prevention’. Changes in psychological states were classified into 3 categories of ‘daily living with anxiety’, ‘emotional distress for aging family members’, and ‘wishing to cope with getting old’. Meaning of social integration were classifies in to 3 categories of ‘appreciation of being together with people’, ‘my job or role in the community’, and ‘suggestions to peers with spinal cord injury on social integration’. The aging in people with spinal cord injury was to lose their physical function, which negatively affected their mental health. Therefore, aging-related issues should be emphasized in both treatment and rehabilitation procedures for people with spinal cord injury who aged over 40 years. Also support programs should be explored to help active social engagement for them.