Relationship between positive psychological factors and social participation in individuals with spinal cord injury: a prospective cross-sectional study

We studied the relationship between positive psychological factors, such as resilience and sexual/body esteem, and negative psychological factors to investigate the effects of positive psychological factors on social participation after spinal cord injury (SCI). The demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, psychological measurements, and social participation of adults with SCI living in the community in Korea (N=110) were assessed. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to identify the relationships between negative and positive psychological factors. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted predicted social participation. Resilience was strongly and negatively correlated with depression (r=-0.58,p<.001) and anxiety (r=-0.51, p<.001), while sexual/body esteem had strong negative correlations with depression (r=-0.62, p<.001), anxiety (r=-0.43, p<.001), and suicidality (r=-0.28,p=.004). In the hierarchical multiple regression, resilience (β=0.38, p<.001) and sexual/body esteem (β=0.26,p=.002) were significant predictors of social participation in Model 3, even after adjusting for sex (Model 1) and negative psychological factors (Model 2). Higher levels of positive psychological factors were associated with lower levels of negative psychological factors, with resilience and sexual/body esteem emerging as stronger predictors of social participation in SCI. Therapeutic approaches or interventions must aim to enhance these positive factors.