Unmet expectations of adjustment and depressive symptoms among people with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury

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Study examined the effects of unmet expectations of adjustment to chronic traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) on depressive symptoms. A total of 863 participants who survived at least 1 year postinjury were assessed at 2 time points separated by 10 years. Using a 10-point ladder (1 = worst and 10 = best adjustment), self-predicted future adjustment was measured at Time 1. At Time 2, current adjustment was reassessed using the same scale to evaluate differences between predicted and actual adjustment. Adjustment expectations were considered unmet when actual adjustment ratings at Time 2 were lower than predicted adjustment at Time 1. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Older Adult Health and Mood Questionnaire at both time points. The results indicated that more than half of the participants experienced unmet expectations of adjustment over a 10-year period, and having unmet expectations was positively associated with depressive symptoms.

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