Verbal Learning Ability and Adjustment to Recent-Onset Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: Investigate the relation between verbal learning and adjustment in individuals in inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Setting: A rehabilitation hospital in the southeastern United States. Study Design: At admission, verbal learning ability and depressive behavior were evaluated. Prior to discharge, acceptance of disability was assessed. Participants: One hundred seven individuals (age range 18–65; 82 men, 25 women; 73 Caucasian, 34 African American). Results: Verbal learning ability accounted for 7% of the variance in acceptance of disability after controlling for demographic variables and depressive behavior. Higher levels of verbal learning ability were associated with disability acceptance. Conclusions: Verbal learning ability is associated with adjustment. Assessment of verbal learning abilities may provide useful information concerning individuals at risk for more complicated adjustment.