Social Participation of Adults with Spinal Cord Injury During the First Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: An Exploratory Longitudinal Study

Introduction: The change in environmental and social context during the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily activities of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), their interactions within the community, and, consequently, their social participation during the first wave of the pandemic. However, there is little information about the changes in social participation as the pandemic evolved in Canada. Objective: Our aim was to explore the change in the social participation of adults with SCI after the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Methods: A follow-up from a previous study exploring the social participation of adults with SCI living during the first wave was conducted eight months later (second wave). Social participation was measured using the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H 4.0) and Measure of Quality of the Environment (MQE) among 18 adults with SCI. Results: Participants reported increases between both waves of COVID-19 in some life habit categories, including mobility, personal care and health, nutrition, and recreation. New environmental factors were identified as facilitators, including the increased availability of businesses in the community. Conclusion: These findings indicate that people with SCI experienced greater realization and satisfaction with certain life habits. Although most barriers and facilitators showed little or no change between the two waves, the reduction in environmental barriers and the increase in facilitators may have contributed to improved social participation as the pandemic progressed.