Tuesday 12 November 2013
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) brings about dramatic and long-term change in both the biological body and the social, psychological and occupational worlds that people inhabit. This has profound effects on the spinal injured person who has to face challenges that they have not previously encountered (Belciug, 2001; Cole, 2004; DeSanto-Madeya, 2006;
Dickinson et al., 2008; Kennedy, 2009). The same applies to the family members, especially the spouses, and significant others of the spinal injured person (Beauregard & Noreau, 2009; Chen and Boore, 2008), Dickson et al., 2010; Dickinson, et al., 2011). The emotional and instrumental support provided by significant others to the spinal injured person forms a crucial part of rehabilitating and successfully returning to community living (Boschen et al., 2003).