Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) require extensive rehabilitation to achieve optimal functioning within the community. This rehabilitation process often involves significant lifestyle adjustments to perform daily living tasks, necessitating both physical and emotional adaptations. However, the psychological factors influencing the functional outcomes in SCI rehabilitation remain underexplored in occupational therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the correlation between functional independence in activities of daily living, as measured by the functional independence measure (FIM) and self-esteem (SE) in individuals with SCI. Study Design: A cohort study. Methods: A cohort study was conducted with 20 individuals aged 25–60 years diagnosed with SCI. Participants were assessed at two points in time: (1) at the time of admission to the rehabilitation program and (2) at the time of discharge. Assessments were performed using the FIM to evaluate functional independence and a standardized SE Scale to assess psychological well-being. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the correlation between FIM scores and SE levels. Results: A significant improvement was observed in both functional independence FIM and SE pre- and postrehabilitation therapy ( P < 0.0001) in individuals with SCI. The study found strong positive correlation ( r = 0.7129 with confidence interval 0.3831–0.8815) between FIM and self-esteem scores posttherapy in individuals with SCI ( P = 0.0004). Conclusion: This cohort study confirms a strong link between functional independence and SE in SCI patients. These findings underscore the importance of rehabilitation programs that integrate physical and psychological care to improve the overall outcomes and quality of life.
Vishakha Meshram (2025) studied this question.