Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of higher-order coping strategies of
tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment with adjustment after
rehabilitation in spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Cross-sectional correlational
study. SUBJECTS: All 397 eligible patients entered for spinal cord
rehabilitation between 1999 and 2009 were contacted and 130 (33%) agreed to
complete a self-report questionnaire. METHODS: Partial correlations were computed
between tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment and affective and
cognitive psychological adjustment. Demographics, spinal cord injury related
variables, social support and coping were used as control variables. RESULTS:
After controlling for relevant demographic, medical and social support indices,
partial correlations between tenacious goal pursuit and indices of adaptation
were not significant. Significant partial correlations were observed between
flexible goal adjustment and each of the indices of adjustment (r = -0.33, -0.42,
0.51, -0.38, respectively, for depression, anxiety, acceptance, and helplessness)
after controlling for all relevant variables in the model. Flexible goal
adjustment explained significant additional proportions of variance for each of
the adjustment indices (7%, 11%, 18%, and 7%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Flexible
goal adjustment, but not tenacious goal pursuit, is associated with psychological
adjustment in spinal cord injury. Further research is needed to understand the
mechanisms of flexible goal adjustment. Interventions targeting flexible goal
adjustment might be of benefit for the patient.

Langue : ANGLAIS