Perception of social support of persons with spinal cord injury on the territory of the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

The relevant available literature highlights the beneficial effects of social support on the well-being of an individual. There is convincing evidence of its beneficial effects, especially those coming from family or friends. The aim of this study was to assess the level of social support perception of persons with and without spinal cord injury. The study included 100 participants who lived on the territory of R. Serbia. The basic criteria for the formation of E group were: age between 18-65 years, diagnosed paraplegia or tetraplegia without brain injury, without intensive congenital diseases or psychiatric illnesses. The research was conducted at the Clinic for rehabilitation 'Dr. Miroslav Zotović' in Belgrade. Criteria for the formation of K group were: age between 18-65 years, without the characteristic somatic diseases, without significant congenital illnesses or psychiatric illness. The sample was formed at the Health Center 'Dr. Simo Milosevic' in Belgrade. The survey instrument was a multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSOPSS), which assessed the perceived social support through three subscales: support from family, friends and other persons important to the patient. The questionnaire consisted of 12 statements on a seven-point Likert scale. Applying ANOVA model of analysis of differences in arithmetic means, statistically significant differences of means in the domain of the family(r=0.598); friends (r=0855) and leading to the conclusion that the perception of the level of social support did not differ in its intensity and quality in participants with and without spinal cord injury.

Relevantna dostupna literatura naglašava blagotvorne efekte socijalne podrške na dobrobit pojedinca. Postoje ubedljivi dokazi o njenim korisnim efektima, naročito onima koji dolaze od strane porodice ili prijatelja. Cilj istraživanja je bio da procenimo nivo opažene socijalne podrške osobama sa i bez povrede kičmene moždine. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 100 ispitanika koji žive na teritoriji R. Srbije. Osnovni kriterijumi za formiranje E grupe bili su: starost između 18 i 65 godina, dijagnoza para ili tetraplegije, bez povreda mozga, bez izrazitih urođenih oboljenja i psihijatrijskih bolesti. Istraživanje je sprovedeno u Klinici za rehabilitaciju 'Dr Miroslav Zotović' u Beogradu. Kriterijumi za formiranje K grupe bili su: starost između 18 i 65 godina, bez karakterističnih somatskih oboljenja, bez izrazitih urođenih oboljenja i psihijatrijskih bolesti. Uzorak je formiran u Domu zdravlja 'Dr Simo Milošević' u Beogradu. Instrument istraživanja bila je Multidimenziona skala opažene socijalne podrške (MSOPSS), koja procenjuje opaženu socijalnu podršku sagledavajući tri subskale: podrške od strane porodice, prijatelja i drugih, za pacijenta važnih osoba. Upitnik se sastojao od 12 izjava, na sedmostepenoj skali likertovog tipa. Primenom ANOVA modela analize razlika aritmetičkih sredina nije ustanovljeno postojanje statistički značajnih razlika aritmetičkih sredina u domenu porodice (r=0,598); prijatelja (r=0,855) i značajnih osoba (r=0,539), što navodi na konstataciju da se opažanje nivoa socijalne podrške ne razlikuje po svom intezitetu i kvalitetu kod ispitanika sa i bez povrede kičmene moždine.