ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examined the effect of leisure activity satisfaction on life satisfaction among individuals with spinal cord injury and verified the multiple mediating effects of independence and emotional support, highlighting the role of leisure in enhancing life satisfaction.Methods: Data were obtained from the 4th Panel Survey on the Life of People with Disabilities (2021) conducted by the Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute. Participants included 298 individuals with spinal cord injury. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS 21.0 and PROCESS.Results: Life satisfaction was significantly higher in the active leisure group (M = 6.48) than in the passive (M = 5.59) and no-activity (M = 5.80) groups. Leisure activity satisfaction significantly predicted life satisfaction, with indirect effects through emotional support (β = 0.45, p < 0.01) and independence (β = 0.32, p < 0.01).Conclusion: Leisure activity satisfaction enhances life satisfaction in patients with spinal cord injury, supporting the need for tailored leisure interventions.