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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether persons with spinal cord injury who participate in an ambulation training program, using electrical stimulation, experience changes in the psychological variables of physical self-concept, depression, self-efficacy and mood states. Participants were 12 men and 3 women of mean age 28.4 (SD=6.6) and mean duration of injury 4.03 years (SD=3.14) with spinal cord injury between T4 and T11 . Treatment consisted of ambulation training 3 times weekly for 12 weeks. Prior to the first session participants were assessed on the above measures using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). They were reassessed at posttreatment. Also at posttreatment participants were interviewed to document their subjective reactions to the training program. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that changes on the TSCS and the BDI occurred in the expected direction and the changes were statistically significant. The change on the POMS was not statistically significant. Unexpectedly scores on the SES changed opposite to the expected direction and the change was statistically significant. Content analysis was performed on the interview data and responses occurring three times of greater were reported. The results from both the objective and the subjective data are discussed as are the implications for future research and practice.