The relationships between time use and health and well‐being in men with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Abstract Despite evidence of the relationship between time use and health and well‐being, and the World Health Organization's recognition of activity limitation as a measure of disability, there has been limited investigation into the activity patterns of persons with disabilities. This study used interviews and time diaries to provide preliminary descriptive and analytical information about the daily time use patterns of men with a spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community (n=312). The study examined relationships between disability severity, time use, social support and socio‐economic status, and psychosocial outcomes, specifically life satisfaction, perceived health and adjustment to disability. The men with spinal cord injury spent on average 7.2 hours in leisure activities; 4.7 hours in productivity; 3.7 hours in personal care; and 8.5 hours sleeping. The sample rated their satisfaction with their time use as mediocre, but levels of adjustment to disability were moderate to high. Regression analysis revealed that disability (lesion level, functional independence, environment) did not predict the amount of time spent in personal care, productivity, leisure, and sleep. And in turn, the amount of time spent in these activities did not predict outcomes (life satisfaction, perceived health, adjustment to disability), but satisfaction with how the time was spent was a moderate predictor. Socioeconomic status had a mild predictive relationship with time allocation. The factors most strongly predictive of the outcomes in this sample were financial stress and social support. Recommendations are made and include both methodological considerations for further time use studies with persons with disabilities, and policy recommendations. The latter focus on the need for rehabilitation, education and resources that go beyond personal care independence such that persons with disabilities can expand their leisure and productivity roles and become better socially and economically integrated into society.