Dynamics of the adaptation to self–disability in people with paraplegia

Introduction: Every year in Poland spinal cord injury occurs in about 800 people. They have to learn to live in a completely new world suited to the skills and abilities of healthy people. The aim of the research was to find out how the adaptation to self-disability among people with paraplegia proceeds in relation to its duration. Material and methods: 40 people with spinal cord injury took part in the research. They were divided into two groups according to the duration of their disability: up to two years of disability and from five years on. In the research the “Psycho-social adaptation” anamnesis created by the author of this paper was used. Its questions covered four categories: Attitude towards self-disability; Interpersonal relations; Work and recreation; Plans, desires, dreams.Results: Persons with a shorter course of paraplegia more often emphasized the negative sides of their disability: barriers, their own defects and restraints. On the other hand, persons with a longer course of paraplegia were aware of their limitations, but they were also able to point out a lot of positive sides of their disability.Conclusion: The research has confirmed the fact that a longer period of disability leads to better adaptation to it, but further analyses with a larger group of the examined is necessary. It must also be taken into consideration that the course of time is just one of many factors positively affecting the adaptation process.