Evaluating Virtual Group Coaching’s Impact on Self-Determination in Spinal Cord Injury

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a lifelong condition that requires effort and adjustment for managing physical, psychological, and social well-being to have the ability to engage in meaningful activities. As people living with SCI have higher rates of isolation and social disconnect, it is important to study group level approaches for addressing mental health. Objectives: To determine the impact of virtual group coaching to enhance occupational performance, satisfaction, self-efficacy and relationship closeness in people living with SCI. Methods: A quasi-experimental single-group pre/post-test design was used. Adults with SCI were recruited through online flyers, social media, newsletters, support groups, clinics, and hospitals. A trained coach led 10 virtual group sessions. Participants volunteered and received compensation. Demographic and injury-related data were collected via Qualtrics at intake. Results: Thirteen participants included diverse demographics. Three outcome measures were used: the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and Relationship Closeness Scale (RC). Findings revealed a significant increase in occupational performance, satisfaction, and relationship closeness with peers (p< 0.0001). However, changes in general self-efficacy and relationship closeness with others were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study underscores the efficacy of virtual group coaching grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), demonstrating its positive impact on autonomy and competence among adults with chronic conditions. The innovative virtual group coaching approach yielded significant improvements in psychosocial outcomes, notably occupational satisfaction and performance, confirming the intervention's effectiveness and potential for broader application. Reference: Cadematori, C., Alpajora, B., Sivori, T., Betz, S., Gerhardt, N., Dunn, W., & Mulcahey, M. J. (2021). Preliminary examination of coaching in context with clients with Spinal Cord Injury. Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-021-00391-9 Hitzig, S. L., Cimino, S. R., Alavinia, M., Bassett-Gunter, R. L., Craven, B. C., & Guilcher, S. J. T. (2021). Examination of the relationships among social networks and loneliness on health and life satisfaction in people with spinal cord injury/dysfunction. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 102(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.030 Passmore, J., & Fillery-Travis, A. (2011). A critical review of executive coaching research: A decade of progress and what’s to come. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 4(2), 70–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2011.596484 Potvin, M.-C., West, E. K., Morales, A. N., Sailor, K. S., & Coronado, N. (2022). “I could really use this”: Occupational therapy students’ perceptions of learning to coach. Occupational Therapy International, 2022, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2266326 Synopsis: This study explores the effect of virtual group coaching for self-determination in adults with SCI, offering an evidence-based approach to support autonomy, competence and relatedness for goal achievement and lifelong participation in occupations. Acknowledgments: Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD OTR/L; Catherine Robinson, OTD; Katie McLaughlin, OTD; Janine Rajauski, M, OTR/L