Article

PURPOSE: To examine the association between social participation and subjective
quality of life (SQOL) for non-employed, community-dwelling adults with moderate
to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at 1 year or greater post-injury. METHOD:
A correlational study was conducted involving 46 participants. Social
participation was measured using the Community Integration Questionnaire, Social
Provisions Scale and the Adult Subjective Assessment of Participation. SQOL was
measured using the Quality of Life and Health Questionnaire, Abdel-Khalek
Happiness Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: Higher levels of happiness
and global quality of life were each associated with higher levels of enjoyment,
satisfaction with performance and higher proportion of activities performed with
others. Lower levels of loneliness were associated with higher levels of general
social integration and higher levels of perceived social supports. There were no
associations found between SQOL and the objective social participation measures
of diversity, frequency (intensity) or proportion of activities performed outside
of home. CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to the TBI literature in showing that
it is: (a) the more subjective and not objectively measured nature of
participation that is associated with SQOL and (b) positive and negative aspects
of quality of life show different relationships with social participation
variables. Implications for Rehabilitation A high proportion of individuals with
traumatic brain injury (TBI) experiences reduced involvement in social
participation (involvement in social and leisure activities and within a social
network) and low subjective quality of life (SQOL). This study suggests that, by
simply increasing the variety and frequency of social and leisure activities,
there may be no positive influences on SQOL. Instead, this study suggests that,
to increase SQOL, it is important to increase opportunities for individuals to
participate with others and also to enhance their subjective experience of social
and leisure activities. The large variance obtained of scores for social
participation and SQOL provide a reminder to clinicians to maintain an
individualized approach when working with individuals with TBI.

Langue : ANGLAIS