Basic hope and posttraumatic growth in people with traumatic paraplegia- the mediating effect of acceptance of disability.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

Investigating the correlations between basic hope, acceptance of disability, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in people with traumatic paraplegia, exploring the mediating effect of acceptance of disability.

SETTING

Community-dwelling people with traumatic paraplegia in Poland.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 281 individuals with paraplegia. The set of questionnaires included: The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI); Basic Hope Inventory (BHI); and The Multidimensional Acceptance of Loss Scale. Four dimensions of disability acceptance were measured: subordinating physique relative to other values, enlarging the scope of values, transforming comparative-status values into asset values, and containing the effects of disability. Mediation was tested with the Baron and Kenny's approach.

RESULTS

A positive and statistically significant correlation between basic hope, acceptance of disability, and posttraumatic growth was found. Using a hierarchical regression analysis, a mediating effect of acceptance of disability was found for explaining the relationship between basic hope and posttraumatic growth in people with paraplegia. Only two dimensions of disability acceptance, subordinating physique relative to other values and transforming comparative-status values into asset values, were found to play a mediating role.

CONCLUSION

Beliefs about the world and the transformation of values ​​that constitute acceptance of disability are important for explaining PTG in people with paraplegia. Correlations between these variables are complex. The correlation between basic hope and posttraumatic growth in individuals with paraplegia may be understood better by taking into account the mediating role of acceptance of disability.