Table 3 Univariable associations between socio-demographic, injury-related and post-injury characteristics with distress at 12 years post-SIE (n = 1526)

Pre-injury characteristics

Sex

 Male

Ref

 Female

1.10

0.84, 1.46

Age in years (at time of injury)

 18–44

Ref

 45–65

0.65

0.49, 0.86

Ethnicity

 NZ European

Ref

 Māori

2.33

1.65, 3.31

 Pacific

1.85

0.85, 4.00

 Asian

2.40

1.47, 3.93

 Other

2.40

1.68, 3.45

Education

 Less than secondary school

Ref

 Secondary school or higher

0.60

0.45, 0.80

Living arrangements

 Alone/with non-family

Ref

 With family

0.77

0.55, 1.08

Income adequacy

 Adequate

Ref

 Inadequate

2.07

1.57, 2.72

Working for pay

 No

Ref

 Yes

0.71

0.45, 1.12

Mental health conditions

 0

Ref

 1

3.03

2.18, 4.19

  ≥ 2

2.41

1.43, 4.06

Physical health conditions

 0

Ref

 1

1.30

0.94, 1.81

  ≥ 2

1.81

1.28, 2.56

General health

 Excellent/very good

Ref

 Good

1.78

1.32, 2.40

 Fair/poor

3.06

2.00, 4.70

Alcohol use

 Non-hazardous

Ref

 Hazardous

0.79

0.60, 1.05

Injury-related characteristics

Injury severity (NISS)

 1–3 (least severe)

Ref

 4–6 (severe)

0.71

0.53, 0.96

  ≥ 7 (most severe)

0.78

0.48, 1.27

Cause of injury

 Unintentional

Ref

 Intentional (assault)

2.38

1.48, 3.81

Perceived threat to life

 No

Ref

 Yes

1.94

1.36, 2.76

Health service characteristics

Health service experience

 Very good/good/moderate

Ref

 Bad/very bad

1.86

1.05, 3.28

ACC experience

 Very good/good/moderate

Ref

 Bad/very bad

1.48

0.91, 2.40

Access to health services

 No trouble

Ref

 Trouble/mixed

0.75

0.45, 1.24

Early post-injury characteristics

Distress 3 months post-SIE (K6 ≥ 8)

 Not distressed

Ref

 Distressed

3.45

2.63, 4.52

Expectations for recovery

 Already recovered

Ref

 Expect to recover soon/slowly

1.70

1.07, 2.69

 Unsure

3.03

1.85, 4.98

 Expect to never recover

1.77

0.74, 4.19

Satisfaction with social relationships

 Satisfied

Ref

 Neutral/dissatisfied

2.69

2.02, 3.57