COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIOURAL FUNCTIONING AMONG SURVIVORS OF SPINAL CORD INJURY

ABSTRACT

This study examined the cognitive and behavioural functioning of patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Further, it examined whether the adherence to cultural Africentric values has any significant influence on the quality of life (QOL) among Spinal Cord Injury patients. Ninety (90) participants comprising 45 patients and 45 healthy controls between 18 and 70 years of age were sampled for this study. They were administered tests assessing cognitive failures, attention, fluency, memory, in addition with measures of Quality of Life, Psychological Health and Cultural Values. The results revealed that SCI patients obtained significantly lower test scores on cognitive functioning tests such as working memory, attention, fluency, and self-reports of memory failures. Additionally, SCI patients reported lower general quality of life compared to the healthy controls. Depression, anxiety and somatization scores were significantly higher for SCI patients than the healthy controls. Further, adherence to Africentric values among SCI patients had a significant positive association with quality of life. The findings were discussed in line with theories and previous studies. The limitations, implications and recommendations of the findings were also discussed.