A Survival Model of Work Life Expectancy After Spinal Cord Injury: Relationships With Race/Ethnicity, Education, Injury, and Aging Factors.

This article examines work life expectancy—defined as the total number of years worked after spinal cord injury (SCI)—and its relationship with race/ethnicity, education, age at injury, sex, and injury severity among adults employed at least one year post-SCI. Using a Cox proportional hazards survival model on data from 1,447 participants, the study found that Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Native American individuals had significantly higher hazards of exiting the labor force earlier than non-Hispanic Whites, with those holding a four-year college degree or higher showing lower hazards of employment loss. Age at injury was positively associated with earlier labor force exit, while injury severity and sex were not significant predictors. The findings highlight a pronounced early departure from employment among racial/ethnic minorities and those with less education, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to support sustained, quality employment beyond initial job placement.