Impact of injury level and self-monitoring on free time boredom of people with spinal cord injury

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not level of injury and personality characteristics creates an interaction effect that impacts the free time boredom of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Method: Using a survey method, a packet containing a cover letter, a consent form, research questionnaires, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope was sent to 500 individuals with SCI who were randomly selected by computer at one of the rehabilitation centres in USA. The research questionnaires included the measures of self-monitoring (SM) and free time boredom (FTB) along with some demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, injury level, and etc.

Results: This study found that a significant interaction effect between injury level and SM on FTB. That is, low self-monitors with tetraplegia reported higher levels of boredom in free time than high self-monitors with paraplegia.

Conclusion: Not all individuals with similar injury levels rate FTB in a similar degree. Individuals' personality characteristics play an important role in experiencing FTB. In particular, the significant interaction effect indicates a potential risk factor for clients with tetraplegia who are low in SM which should be an important consideration in the lives of people with tetraplegia following rehabilitation.