A Life Course Perspective to Spinal Cord Injury and Employment Participation in Canada

This study examines how employment experiences differ for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) based on their life phase. It focuses on comparing employment participation between young/middle-aged adults and older adults with SCI in Canada. The research aims to understand the relationship between demographic and health factors, SCI-related needs, social roles, and employment at different life phases, using a life course perspective. The study anticipates that young/middle-aged adults are more likely to be employed post-injury compared to older adults, who are more likely to retire. It also expects that more severe injuries and unmet needs will lower the likelihood of employment.

• 1
  Close to one-third of participants with SCI were working post injury (32%), a decline from the 62% of respondents working prior to their injury.
• 2
  Young/middle-aged adults were more likely to be employed post injury (36%) when compared to older respondents (12% employed) who were more likely to report being retired (43%).
• 3
  For young/middle-aged adults, being married, attaining a postsecondary education, and having fewer unmet SCI needs were related to employment. Among older adults, having a traumatic injury was related to involvement in paid work.