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What factors influence the ability to cope with a spinal cord injury? - Allen Heinemann, PhD

What factors influence the ability to cope with a spinal cord injury?

Allen Heinemann, PhD

Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago

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There have been quite a few studies looking at coping processes and what works in general.  We know that maladaptive processes, like drinking or using drugs excessively, retreating and avoiding social contact, are a formula for a poorer outcome.... Show More

There have been quite a few studies looking at coping processes and what works in general.  We know that maladaptive processes, like drinking or using drugs excessively, retreating and avoiding social contact, are a formula for a poorer outcome.  That’s not to say we should tell a person who’s coping poorly to snap out of it, and just get out of their home—though that might help.  Yes, people do vary in their coping resources, their coping strategy.  Whether they’ve had to deal with misfortune in the past is terribly important.  If they’ve had another illness or an injury, personally or in their family, it gives them opportunities to deal with disruptions in their life, and the experience of coping with a disruption in their life.

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What factors influence the ability to cope with a spinal cord injury?

Allen Heinemann, PhD

Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago

More Videos by Allen Heinemann
Transcriptadd

There have been quite a few studies looking at coping processes and what works in general.  We know that maladaptive processes, like drinking or using drugs excessively, retreating and avoiding social contact, are a formula for a poorer outcome.  That’s not to say we should tell a person who’s coping poorly to snap out of it, and just get out of their home—though that might help.  Yes, people do vary in their coping resources, their coping strategy.  Whether they’ve had to deal with misfortune in the past is terribly important.  If they’ve had another illness or an injury, personally or in their family, it gives them opportunities to deal with disruptions in their life, and the experience of coping with a disruption in their life.

What factors influence the ability to cope with a spinal cord injury?
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