Life is about “constant evolution”: the experience of living with an acquired brain injury in individuals who report higher or lower posttraumatic growth

Abstract

Objective

To explore the experience of living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) in individuals who report higher or lower posttraumatic growth (PTG).

Method

A multi-method design was employed. Participant scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were used to identify groups for qualitative comparative analysis. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen individuals with ABI. Data were analysed thematically.

Results

Four themes emerged. The first two themes: “In my mind I was fine” surviving in aftermath of acquiring a brain injury and The everyday as “derailing” capture the transition process from an initial rehabilitation state characterised by neuropsychological and avoidance coping, towards active rebuilding for PTG. Internal building blocks for PTG and Growing in the social world: “you need to have that social connection” elaborate on the internal (e.g., acceptance, integration of the pre and post-injury self) and external (e.g., social relationships) factors seen to facilitate or obstruct PTG.

Conclusions

Under certain conditions, individuals living with ABI may construe positive growth from their experiences. Practitioners can support PTG development by providing individual and family-based supports aimed at increasing acceptance, the integration of self, and social connection throughout all stages of ABI rehabilitation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Internal factors such as having a flexible and positive mindset and external factors such as one’s social environment can affect how individuals living with an ABI construe positive growth.

• Individuals with ABI and their families require access to individualised longitudinal support for neuropsychological and social challenges that can result in increased distress and obstruct the development of PTG.

• Efforts to facilitate acceptance and support the integration of the pre and post-injury self through recognition of continuity of self and processing of new schematic beliefs can benefit PTG development.

• Rehabilitation providers should support individuals with ABI to develop or maintain a positive social identity within new or existing social groups.

Keywords:

• post-traumatic growth
• acquired brain injury
• traumatic brain injury
• rehabilitation
• qualitative
• comparison groups

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to each and every individual who shared their stories with us. We also thank all of the staff at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland, who supported this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Participant consent

All participants included in the current study provided written consent for the inclusion of quotes of the current manuscript.