Do Communities Matter After Rehabilitation? The Effect of Socioeconomic and Urban Stratification on Well-Being After Spinal Cord Injury

This study investigates how the socioeconomic status (SES) and urban environment of a community affect the well-being of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) after they have completed rehabilitation. The study found that community SES was related inversely to the odds of reporting ill health, meaning people in lower SES communities are more likely to report being in ill health. However, dissatisfaction with life was higher in people with SCI living in high SES and urban communities. These findings suggest that the community environment plays a role in the long-term well-being of individuals with SCI, and understanding this role is important for developing interventions to improve outcomes after rehabilitation.

• 1
  The likelihood of ill health and dissatisfaction with life in people with SCI varied across communities.
• 2
  Community SES was related inversely to the odds of reporting ill health.
• 3
  The odds for dissatisfaction were higher in persons with SCI living in high SES and urban communities.