Affiliations: [a] Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [b] University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain | [c] Department of Psychology, Surcolombiana University, Neiva, Colombia | [d] Department of Psychology, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Neiva, Colombia | [e] IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, Ph.D., IKERBASQUE Research Professor, Department of Psy\-chology, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain. Tel.: +34 804 859
4329; jcarango@deusto.es
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite the body of research on caregivers of individuals with various types of disabilities, SCI caregivers have received comparably less attention, especially in regions like Latin America. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between HRQOL and mental health in SCI caregivers from Colombia. METHOD: A cross sectional study assessed SCI caregivers (n = 40) in Neiva, Colombia. Participants completed a measure of their HRQOL (SF-36 Health Questionnaire) and four measures of mental health (Satisfaction With Life Scale, Zarit Burden Interview, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). RESULTS: A canonical correlation between variables revealed that 64% of the variance was shared between mental health and HRQOL. The domains that loaded highest within the canonical correlation were social functioning, general health, and anxiety, indicating that SCI caregivers with higher anxiety experienced lower social functioning and lower general health. Furthermore, 15 of the 24 bivariate correlations between mental health and HRQOL were statistically significant, suggesting a strong connection between these two sets of variables. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation professionals in Latin America should consider the development of caregiver interventions focusing on both physical and mental health, as the two constructs are closely connected through social functioning, general health, and anxiety.
Keywords: Spinal cord injuries, Latin America, mental health, HRQOL, caregivers
